How would an Independent Scotland tackle climate change

An independent Scotland may not single-handedly tackle climate change, but it could put Scotland in a better position as the resulting constitutional and legal clarity would facilitate more bespoke and ambitious climate change aims. As a policy area, climate change is currently shared between, and often contested with, Westminster. This often- competitive relationship between Westminster and Holyrood has spurred some ambition to outdo one another on climate change and independence would certainly give Scotland a chance to navigate more freely and without competitive distraction. We are, however, currently in a period of fundamental change and uncertainty: as well as the impacts of Brexit, we are also dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Both unprecedented events no doubt will leave their mark on Scottish politics and society, including climate change. While political actors are currently calling for a ‘green recovery’, Scotland’s climate change policy may benefit from a comparatively strong civil society and relatively favourable political landscape. It is therefore likely that we will see a more ambitious drive in that direction.