06 May 2025

WWF Comment

For immediate release

Programme for Government - WWF Scotland comment

Responding to the Scottish Government’s legislative programme for the coming year [1], Claire Daly, Head of Policy and Advocacy at WWF Scotland said:

“As we enter the final year of this administration, we had hoped to see more ambition and detail of how the Scottish Government would meet one of its top priorities - dealing with Scotland’s climate and nature emergencies.

“Bringing forward a Heat in Buildings Bill would be more worthwhile if it included clear triggers for the fitting of heat pumps when buying or selling properties. This is needed to cut our carbon emissions and free people from volatile fossil fuel prices – a big factor in the cost-of-living crisis.

“While disappointed with the announcement today, we look forward to the publication of the upcoming Climate Change Plan in the hope it will set out how the Scottish Government will reach its 2045 net zero climate emission goals.”

On energy, Claire Daly Head of Policy and Advocacy at WWF Scotland added:

“We look forward to the speedy introduction of the Heat in Buildings Bill, but it needs to reverse the recent watering down of proposals. As it currently stands it will miss the opportunity to lift those most in need out of fuel poverty, while failing to set the triggers needed to shift us from damaging fossil fuels to clean heating. It also fails to provide certainty to the industry delivering the clean heat transition.”

On agriculture commitments, Claire Daly Head of Policy and Advocacy at WWF Scotland said:

“Over the course of this Parliament, the Scottish Government has repeatedly set out its ambition to make our farming sector a world-leader on climate and nature-friendly farming. Unfortunately, the actions they’ve taken to date fall far short of being worthy of this title, and we’ve seen no proposals today to deliver the scale of transformation needed for that.”

On nature recovery, Claire Daly, Head of Policy and Advocacy at WWF Scotland said:

“We cautiously welcome the commitment to extending the Nature Restoration Fund into the first year of the next Parliament. The level of the investment remains to be seen but the scale of it must match the gravity of the challenge we face to halt nature loss by 2030. “

Notes to Editors

[1] Scottish Government Programme for Government

https://www.gov.scot/publications/programme-government-2025-26/