Technical Notes 2025, Issue 90 - Just Transition: draft plan for transport in Scotland

1. The Scottish Government has published their Draft Just Transition Plan for Transport in Scotland for public consultation, which will run until 19^th May 2025.

The Council’s proposed response to the consultation is in Appendix A  The ‘Just Transition: draft plan for transport in Scotland’ (draft plan) has been shaped by over 1,000 people that attended a programme of over 100 events.  Scottish Government intend to use the findings from this consultation to inform the national approach to achieving a just transition to net zero in transport.  

2. Transport is the highest emitting sector of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland (32%) and is also one of the largest emitting sectors in East Dunbartonshire. As a result, significant change is required to the transport system to deliver on the Scottish Government’s target to reach net zero by 2045.

3. Scotland has set various targets for delivering this transformation across all transport sectors. The headline targets include:

• 20% reduction in vehicle km by 2030. However, in April 2025, it was announced that this target will be reviewed following publication of the Climate Change Committee Report in May 2025.
• 30% of Scottish Government-owned ferries should be low emission by 2032.
• scheduled flights between Scottish Airports should be decarbonised by 2040

 
4. The Scottish Government defines a just transition as both the outcome – a fairer, greener future for all – and the process of delivering net zero – in partnership with those affected.

5. In 2019, Scotland became the first country in the world to establish a Just Transition Commission: a group of experts tasked with providing independent advice on the nations journey to net zero. In a report in March 2021, the Commission called for the creation of Just Transition Plans for sectors with the highest emissions, such as transport. As part of the response, the Scottish Government created a national framework, which is designed to guide the development of these Plans. It is centred around four themes:

• Jobs, skills and economic opportunities.
• People and equity.
• Communities and place.
• Environment, adaptation and biodiversity.

 

6. The draft plan identifies the key challenges and opportunities in making a just transition to net zero, a vision for a fair transition, and the Scottish Government’s aim to develop a transport system that is more sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible to support a healthier and fairer Scotland. 

7. The Scottish Government notes that engagement, empowerment and co-design is at the heart of its planning for a just transition. Through the consultation on the draft plan, views are sought on the priorities, including whether the Scottish Government is focusing on the right issues, identifying any gaps, and any further considerations for the implementation on the actions.   

8. The draft vision is:

“By 2045, we will have a net-zero sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses workers and visitors.”

9. The draft Outcomes from the plan are outlined below:

Outcomes

Jobs, Skills and Economic Opportunities outcomes
1.The net zero transition supports new and existing well-paid jobs across Scotland, within transport services, supply chains and in the wider economy.
2: The transport sector supports diversity in
the workforce, advances equality of opportunities for all, and is underpinned by a commitment to fair work.
3: Businesses currently relying on fossil fuel vehicles are supported to transition to zero emissions alternatives.
4: Scottish zero emission vehicle manufacturers and their supply chain can access growing domestic and international markets for their products.

Communities and Places outcomes
5: Communities (including in rural and suburban areas) are well connected, having better digital connectivity and shared transport options that meet their local needs.
6: Transport and the planning systems give communities access to the
local services and amenities they need.
7: Island communities are well connected on-island, to other islands, and to the mainland, with affordable and low carbon transport options.
8: Communities are actively involved in decision-making processes around their transport and connectivity needs.

People and Equity outcomes
9: Transport options are safe and secure for all, especially vulnerable people.
10: Transport is accessible and easy to use for all, especially those with additional accessibility needs and isolated people.
11: Transport options are affordable and the transition to decarbonised transport does not disproportionately burden on those with least choice and ability to pay.
12: Access and support for active travel options leads to healthier outcomes.

Adaptation, Biodiversity and Environment outcomes
13: Transport infrastructure is, where practicable, designed and operated to maintain and increase biodiversity levels and improve habitats.
14: The transport transition has contributed to improvements in air quality across Scotland.
15: The transport system is prepared for the current and future impacts of climate change and is safe for all users, reliable for everyday journeys and resilient to weather-related disruption.
16: Scotland's supply chain has minimised and mitigated embedded carbon and the wider environmental impacts associated with vehicle production, use and disposal.

10. The draft plan is aimed at three key audiences; People and Communities; Workers; and Businesses and Organisations. Key messages highlighted for these groups, include: 

• People and Communities: The draft plan discusses transport inequalities, highlighting that wealthier people are responsible for far more carbon emissions, on average, than people who are less well off. The plan also acknowledges the unique challenges that people who live in rural and island communities face in their day-to-day travel.  The Scottish Government is using this consultation to gather views on how the costs and benefits that will be part of the transition should be fairly distributed.
  
  
• Workers: The draft plan indicates that there will be no major transport sector-wide job losses, though the job mix will change throughout the transition to net zero.
  The Scottish Government anticipates that employment will fall in vehicle maintenance and petrol stations, but that this could be offset by new jobs in low emission vehicle maintenance, production, and infrastructure installation.  A key challenge will be to ensure that workers can get the skills they need to adapt to and support this transition.  The Scottish Government also sees the transition as an opportunity to address workforce challenges such as improving diversity. 

• Businesses and Organisations: The Scottish Government identified that the most pressing need for action is to support the transition of road transport, with a particular challenge in the transition of Heavy Duty Vehicles and the financing it will require. The plan also highlights significant economic opportunities, such as developing Sustainable Aviation Fuel and charging and refuelling infrastructure.

 

People and Communities

11. From a people and community perspective, the draft plan notes that by 2045, a successful just transition will mean:

• people and communities benefit from well connected, affordable, reliable public transport and electric vehicle networks, and from improved active travel networks - which meet local need and support access to employment and vital services.
• transport systems and active travel infrastructure will be accessible and safe for all users.
• people less able to pay, and with fewer transport options, have not been disproportionately burdened by the transition away from fossil-fuelled vehicles.
• people benefit from a transport system that has been suitably adapted to climate change, and is supporting biodiversity and better air quality.

12. The draft plan sets out the following future priorities for people and communities:

• Support the switch to electric vehicles and providing the necessary infrastructure through the following measures:
  1. Publish a new Implementation Plan to deliver approximately 24,000 additional charge points by 2030, through public and private finance.
  2. Continue to support a public charging network through the EV Infrastructure Fund (EVIF). The fund is providing £30 million to Local Authorities and aims to attract a further £30 million in private investment.
  3. Encourage charge point operators and owners to prioritise minimum accessibility standards to ensure the public network is inclusive of all drivers.
  4. Support the uptake of vehicles sold through the Vehicle Emissions Trading Scheme via automotive manufacturers.
     
     
• Deliver interventions to achieve the 20% reduction in car use by 2030, such as:
  • Incentives for people to travel more sustainably, including:
    
    1. Sustainably locate and design new development to support local living.
    2. Integrated public transport fares to increase accessibility and affordability.
    3. Improve digital connectivity to reduce the need for unnecessary travel.
    
    
  • Disincentives to car use – demand management interventions focused on urban areas.
  • Local road user charging and workplace parking licensing schemes enabling Local Authorities to invest in delivering sustainable transport priorities.
  • Continued engagement with the UK Government who reserve the main policy levers to disincentivise car use (Fuel Duty and Vehicle Excise Duty).

Workers

13. The draft plan notes that the main changes for workers will be centred around commuting and the vehicles or mode of transport taken to work and that some workers and industries will face more significant impacts. Ensuring workers get the skills and support they need to adapt to and contribute to the transition is a key challenge identified by the Scottish Government. For workers, the draft plan notes that by 2045, a successful just transition will mean:

• workers have gained the skills required for, and benefitted from, a net zero transport system.
• workers have been supported in adapting to the impacts of climate change, as part of a sector that embraces fair work.
• the transport workforce is more diverse, equal and inclusive, and will continue being strengthened by a reliable pipeline of future talent.

Businesses and Organisations

15. The transition in transport will have implications for businesses and organisations across Scotland’s economy. All organisations need to reduce their emissions and the other negative impacts caused by their use of transport, and adapt to a changing climate.  In practice, this means becoming more sustainable and efficient in the ways they operate. The draft plan notes that by 2045, a successful just transition for businesses and organisations will mean:

• Businesses and organisations have benefitted from innovative financing models to decarbonise their fleet and have access to affordable zero emissions vehicles and infrastructure.
• Scotland’s SME’s have taken advantage of the opportunities of net zero, and the industry has maintained its position in the zero emission mobility markets where we have competitive advantage.
• Scotland has become a global destination for innovation and investment in sustainable transport.

14. The draft plan sets out the future priorities for workers to continue Scotland’s transition with a specific focus on skills development and support in all transport sectors, particularly road transport. These include:

• More workers and businesses planning ahead for the impacts of the transition and gaining the relevant new skills required.
• Support for the work of the Energy Skills Partnership, to continue addressing the sector’s skills needs, including additional focus on upskilling education providers to enable them to teach skills relating to the installation of EV infrastructure.
• Industry action across different sub-sectors to:
  1. Address the lack of diversity in the sector.
  2. Deliver skills actions required in the Heavy-Duty Vehicle (HDV) sector agreed through the Zero Emissions Truck Taskforce
• Skills pathways to support the transition, including:
  1. Implementing a new national skills planning approach to set strategic skills priorities.
  2. Strengthening regional skills planning.
  3. Introducing legislation to simplify the skills funding public body landscape, including funding for apprenticeships.
  4. Reforming apprenticeships making them simpler for participants and employers.
  5. Improving careers advice and education support in communities.
  6. Reforming post-schools qualifications arrangements to ensure they are responsive to need and reflect the transition.

16. The transition presents economic opportunities for businesses and organisations to create jobs, grow and increase trade and investment. Three such areas identified through the draft plan for Scotland’s transport transition, include:

• Those associated with the decarbonisation of HDV and niche manufacturing sector.
• Charging and refuelling infrastructure required for net zero. Scotland’s focus on electric and hydrogen charging/refuelling is anticipated to create more opportunities for businesses involved in providing and supporting the necessary technology and infrastructure in Scotland and UK-wide.
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Until such times as hydrogen and electric aircraft become available for commercial routes, SAF has been identified as a key component to reduce aviation emissions over the short to medium-term.

17. The draft plan sets out the future priorities for businesses and organisations that include:

• Developing sustainable private finance models for the sector.
• Electrical network engagement to explore and improve strategic and operational processes relating to transport electrification. This will also ensure Distribution Network Operators and the new National Energy System Operator have the information they need to prepare for strategic investments that support the electrification of transport.
• A fleet financing forum to provide a platform for all stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and barriers to more financing across the HDV sector in Scotland.
• Public sector fleet decarbonisation – Working with the public sector (including Local Authorities) the Scottish Government will develop a Fleet Decarbonisation Action Plan.
• Undertaking research to identify locations for zero emissions HDV recharging/refuelling infrastructure.

18. As this is the first Just Transition Plan for Transport in Scotland, the Scottish Government acknowledges that not all the answers are contained within it, nor is it the final word in the planning process.

Instead, between now and 2045, it is anticipated that there will be further need for updated versions to reflect progress, address remaining issues and further guide Scotland’s transition.

19. If Elected Members would like any comments on the draft plan to be conveyed through this consultation response (Appendix A), please send comments to sustainability@eastdunbartonshire.gov.uk by 5pm on Friday the 16^th May.

Appendix A – Proposed Response

Vision and Outcomes Consultation Questions:

Question 1

Vision and Outcomes Consultation Questions: Aim: To get feedback on the overall structure of the Plan and general comments or gaps identified in the outcomes, this is also to invite views on future engagement on just transition issues in Transport.

Audience: Everyone is invited to answer all consultation questions, but we have suggested that there are some questions which are more relevant to organisations or businesses, so it is possible for you to skip questions you don’t want to answer.

1: Do the draft outcomes reflect what the Plan should be aiming to achieve? Please give reasons for your answer.

I understand the draft outcomes

• Strongly Agree

The draft outcomes reflect what the Plan should be aiming to achieve

• Agree

Is anything missing from the draft outcomes in the Plan? (optional)

The Plan should include specific recommendations for modal shift up the sustainable transport hierarchy since this is a key factor to reach net zero in the Climate Change Committee’s carbon budgets. The CCC’s 7^th carbon budge for the UK notes the following:

“Improvements to make buses and active travel more attractive, affordable, and accessible allow 7% of car demand to be switched to public transport and active travel by 2035, compared to the baseline. This is an ambitious assumption on modal shift, underpinned by evidence on interventions in leading countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands and in towns and cities across the UK.”

Since Scotland has an earlier target of net zero by 2045, these targets will need to be achieved sooner.

Given that physical inactivity costs the NHS £91 million annually and results in approximately 2,500 premature deaths each year in Scotland, specific targets to improve active travel should constitute the basis of the draft plan. Active travel can nearly halve these deaths through the benefits of increased physical activity. As such, barriers to active travel are not only climate challenges but also hamper health and economic outcomes.

Making car free living more viable through improved safety measures for active travel, like extension of high-quality cycling infrastructure and improved public transport, also has significant poverty alleviation potential given the increasing costs of insurance and second-hand vehicles. Accordingly, the outcomes should include car-living being made more viable to support poverty alleviation, reduced financial pressure on the NHS, improved air quality and additional co-benefits. 

The Plan cites the fact that Scotland now has 450 miles of new or improved walking or cycling paths, compared to 2010. However, this compares to 37,100 miles of road network in Scotland. This can be further supported through the implementation of local living policies (through the implementation of National Planning Framework 4 and development of Local Development Plans) to sustainably locate and design new accessible developments.

Proven solutions to overcome safety concerns, such as new high quality segregated cycle lanes have successfully achieved modal shift and should be a core pillar of the draft outcomes. This could be achieved through specific target of miles of new and/or improved high quality walkways and cycling paths should be set to maximise the co-benefits and justice in the transition while contributing to sustainable development as set out in the Scottish Government’s draft Statutory Guidance for the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

The outcomes do not reflect the significant increase in the average size of cars in recent decades and the fact that larger vehicles are more dangerous - particularly for vulnerable people such as children, pedestrians and cyclist - while having a higher social cost on public infrastructure and taking up limited space, especially in town and cities. Halting the growth of average car size will also reduce costs for infrastructure maintenance and therefore help to alleviate the increasing financial burden on local authorities.

Electrification is a core part of transport’s transition to net zero. The outcomes should explain that renewably generated electricity is much cheaper than fossil fuels, but these lower prices are not passed on to users. The artificially high price of electricity is a major barrier to decarbonisation of transport. Passing on the low-cost of renewably generated electricity to user is therefore a core component of a just transition to net zero and should be reflected in the outcomes.

See sources below for further details:

CCC (2025) The Seventh Carbon Budget - Climate Change Committee

Nesta (2024) For the first time, UK household electricity prices rose to levels higher than those in any EU country

International Energy Agency (2024) Rapid rollout of clean technologies makes energy cheaper, not more costly - News - IEA

Nesta (2023) The electricity-to-gas price ratio explained

See BBC (2025) Could Scotland have Europe's lowest electricity bills? - BBC News

Living Streets (2024) The Pedestrian Pound makes the economic case for investing in better streets for walking and wheeling

Transport for London  Walking and cycling: the economic benefits (tfl.gov.uk)

The Scottish Government (2014) A More Active Scotland: Building a Legacy from the Commonwealth Games

Sustrans (2024) Walking and Cycling Index 2023: Scotland (sustrans.org.uk)

Sustrans (2023) Why are cars getting bigger? A deep dive into how UK regulations are enabling car size growth

 

Question 2: (Everyone): Please look at the draft Transport Just Transition Plan and tell us whether you agree or disagree with the following statements.

The Plan is easy to understand

• Strongly Agree

The Plan is easy to use

• Strongly Agree

The information in the plan is helpful

• Agree

The information in the plan is relevant to me

• Agree

The plan is accessible to me

• Strongly Agree

Question 3 (Everyone): Are you involved in any organised groups (for example a campaigning group, industry working group or public sector forum, which does not have to be climate-related) that considers how the transport sector is changing or could change in future?

• Yes

Name of group (optional)

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Sustainable Scotland Network, Scottish Climate Intelligence Service, Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network and Climate Ready Clyde.

Key consideration should be given to the high-level outcomes of the Just Transition Plan for Transport in Scotland and cascaded down through the aforementioned groups and into all key outputs, including policy, strategy and guidance documents, either as a specific aim or as an overarching principle where relevant.

How could existing transport groups consider just transition issues? (optional)

People and Communities Consultation Questions:

Question 4: Are there any gaps in our priority actions to support people and communities in the transition of the transport sector?

• Yes

If yes, please comment here.

Within the context of increases to the average costs of second-hand cars and car insurance, creating infrastructure that allows people to overcome safety concerns to live car-free has significant poverty alleviation potential. The co-benefits of active travel should also be emphasised such as how physical inactivity costs the NHS £91 million annually and results in approximately 2,500 premature deaths each year in Scotland. Active travel can nearly halve these deaths through the benefits of increased physical activity.

Given the successful modal shift documented in the South City Way in Glasgow and other sites around Scotland where high-quality, segregated active travel infrastructure has been created, commitments to greater modal shift by prioritising infrastructure of this quality should be emphasised more heavily since the additional co-benefits that this would deliver for people and communities are emblematic of a just transition to net zero.

Reference should be made to the increasing average size of vehicles that has occurred over the last few decades, the greater societal burden that larger cars cause, including the increased danger that they present to pedestrians coupled with income-based distribution of these vehicles.

The air travel section should also reference the fact that approximately 70% of flights are for leisure and that these emission intensive activities are skewed disproportionately to higher earners.  Flights also contribute disproportionately to climate change by virtue of emissions being released into the upper part of the atmosphere. A reduction of leisure-based and non-essential frequent flights would be conducive to a just pathway to net zero and should be reflected. This would also be in line with the following key point in the Plan “Those who are better off are responsible for a greater proportion of transport emissions, and this needs to be reflected in our approach to meeting the costs of the transition.”

Question 5 (Everyone): Which of the following priorities we have set out in the draft Plan do you think would be most helpful for people like you to reduce how often, or how far, they drive in a private car?

You do not need to own or drive a car to answer the question, because reliance on private cars impacts everyone.

More access to online services so people don't need to travel unnecessarily.

• Very helpful

Access to ‘car clubs’ which allow people to hire a car or van for shorter trips.

• Very helpful

Availability of demand responsive transport for some areas for example dial-a-bus services.

• Very helpful

Better use of space for active travel and public transport.

• Very helpful

Increasing costs to make driving a less attractive option in some circumstances, especially where there will be other benefits such as reducing pollution and congestion.

• Very helpful

Comment (optional)

Specific targets on achieving modal shift via the proven solution of high-quality active travel infrastructure should be included to maximise the societal returns of the just transition through the benefits mentioned in the response to question 1. 

Question 6 (Everyone): Does the draft Plan take all groups in society into account in setting out a vision for a future transport system for people and communities?

The Plan considers the impacts of decarbonising transport on all groups in our society.

• Agree

The Plan considers the impacts of decarbonising transport on people like me.

• Agree

Comment (optional)

While the draft plan takes all groups into account, the gaps outlined in question 1 have implications for the groups that could be considered further.

Question 7 (Everyone): Is there anything else you would like to see in the draft Plan for people who are more likely to face challenges accessing affordable, convenient and safe travel options?

A commitment to exploiting the poverty alleviation potential of active travel infrastructure could have a major impact. This could be done by cross referencing the SIMD index with areas in Scotland that have the critical mass / latent demand to benefit from such infrastructure. This should be developed and supported with funding.

Question 8 (Everyone): Which of the following principles do you think should be the most important to guide the development of a fair system of payment, to deliver a just transition to net zero in Scotland?

• Those who emit the most pay the most, with protections for low-income groups.
• Those who earn the most pay the most, without disadvantaging middle-income groups.
• Costs shared through taxation and incentives, such as reduced costs, will support low-carbon choices.
• None of the above

The independent evidence suggesting that there is a link between households with higher incomes and higher harmful emissions from personal transport while those on lower incomes are more likely to be reliant on public transport and more impacted by negative effects of emissions, such as air pollution, makes a strong case for the approach of “Those who emit the most pay the most, with protections for low-income groups.”

Workers Consultation Questions

Question 9 (Everyone): Are there any gaps in our priority action to supporting workers in the transition of the transport sector?

It would be helpful if you could say whether your answer relates to all workers or transport workers

• Yes

If yes, please comment here.

The Plan should include specific recommendations for modal shift up the sustainable transport hierarchy since this is a key factor to reach net zero in the Climate Change Committee’s carbon budgets. The CCC’s 7^th carbon budget for the UK notes the following:

“Improvements to make buses and active travel more attractive, affordable, and accessible allow 7% of car demand to be switched to public transport and active travel by 2035, compared to the baseline. This is an ambitious assumption on modal shift, underpinned by evidence on interventions in leading countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands and in towns and cities across the UK.”

Since Scotland has an earlier target of net zero by 2045, these targets will need to be achieved sooner.

Given that physical inactivity costs the NHS £91 million annually and results in approximately 2,500 premature deaths each year in Scotland, specific targets to improve active travel should constitute the basis of the draft plan. Active travel can nearly halve these deaths through the benefits of increased physical activity. As such, barriers to active travel are not only climate challenges but also hamper health and economic outcomes.

Making car free living more viable through improved safety measures for active travel, like extension of high-quality cycling infrastructure and improved public transport, also has significant poverty alleviation potential given the increasing costs of insurance and second-hand vehicles. Accordingly, the outcomes should include car-living being made more viable to support poverty alleviation, reduced financial pressure on the NHS, improved air quality and additional co-benefits. 

The Plan cites the fact that Scotland now has 450 miles of new or improved walking or cycling paths, compared to 2010. However, this compares to 37,100 miles of road network in Scotland. This can be further supported through the implementation of local living policies (through the implementation of National Planning Framework 4 and development of Local Development Plans) to sustainably locate and design new accessible developments.

Proven solutions to overcome safety concerns, such as new high quality segregated cycle lanes have successfully achieved modal shift and should be a core pillar of the draft outcomes. This could be achieved through specific target of miles of new and/or improved high quality walkways and cycling paths should be set to maximise the co-benefits and justice in the transition while contributing to sustainable development as set out in the Scottish Government’s draft Statutory Guidance for the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

The outcomes do not reflect the significant increase in the average size of cars in recent decades and the fact that larger vehicles are more dangerous - particularly for vulnerable people such as children, pedestrians and cyclist - while having a higher social cost on public infrastructure and taking up limited space, especially in town and cities. Halting the growth of average car size will also reduce costs for infrastructure maintenance and therefore help to alleviate the increasing financial burden on local authorities.

Electrification is a core part of transport’s transition to net zero. The outcomes should explain that renewably generated electricity is much cheaper than fossil fuels, but these lower prices are not passed on to users. The artificially high price of electricity is a major barrier to decarbonisation of transport. Passing on the low-cost of renewably generated electricity to user is therefore a core component of a just transition to net zero and should be reflected in the outcomes.

See sources below for further details:

CCC (2025) The Seventh Carbon Budget - Climate Change Committee

Nesta (2024) For the first time, UK household electricity prices rose to levels higher than those in any EU country

International Energy Agency (2024) Rapid rollout of clean technologies makes energy cheaper, not more costly - News - IEA

Nesta (2023) The electricity-to-gas price ratio explained

See BBC (2025) Could Scotland have Europe's lowest electricity bills? - BBC News

Living Streets (2024) The Pedestrian Pound makes the economic case for investing in better streets for walking and wheeling

Transport for London  Walking and cycling: the economic benefits (tfl.gov.uk)

The Scottish Government (2014) A More Active Scotland: Building a Legacy from the Commonwealth Games

Sustrans (2024) Walking and Cycling Index 2023: Scotland (sustrans.org.uk)

Sustrans (2023) Why are cars getting bigger? A deep dive into how UK regulations are enabling car size growth

Question 10 (Everyone): We have set out some actions in the draft Plan which we hope will address Transport workforce challenges. How important are the following actions to make transport jobs more attractive to people who are not as likely to work in the sector, such as women and younger people?

Programmes which encourage women and girls to enter science, technology,

engineering and maths (STEM) courses at school and college or university.

• Very important

Actions to promote diversity and inclusion within the industry, including workplace culture changes.

• Very important

Actions that address existing pay gaps for certain groups.

• Very important

Actions to increase access to childcare.

• Very important

Other - please specify

• Very important

Other:

Providing information to young people and those who influence them on specific job opportunities and pathways to such opportunities – including details on apprenticeships, university courses and college courses – would help people from all walks of life to access the wide range of positions that a just transition would create.

Question 11: Actions to improve diversity in the transport sector would be most effective if they were mostly led by (choose one):

• Public sector

Question 12: Does the summary of priorities for workers in the draft Just Transition Plan address future workforce and skills challenges you expect to have, as the transport sector decarbonises?

The draft priorities for workers will address future skills challenges.

• Agree

The draft priorities for workers will address transport workforce diversity.

• Agree

The draft priorities will encourage new entrants to the transport workforce.

• Agree

Comment (optional)

Yes, as noted in the Plan, potential skills shortages are anticipated in repairing and maintaining EVs and potentially electricians for charging infrastructure given the significant increase in grid capacity required to decarbonise heat and transport. The Plan should use CCC reports to estimate modal shift required to meet Scotland’s net zero targets and use this information to inform skills challenges.

Businesses and Organisations Consultation Questions:

Question 13 (Everyone): Are there any gaps in our approach to setting out opportunities and priorities for businesses and other organisations in the transition of the transport sector?

It would be helpful if you could say whether your response relates to businesses and organisations operating directly in the Transport sector (for example a bus company, a parcel delivery service or a community transport association) or a business/ organisation that relies on Transport more generally (for example, so that employees can get to work).

• Yes

If yes, please comment here.

Significant additional resource is required for Local Authorities to decarbonise their fleet, install the required EV charging infrastructure and reduce related operating emissions. For Local Authorities and the wider public sector to be an exemplar for a just transition, prioritising support for fleet decarbonisation is a necessity.

Expansion of low carbon transport loan schemes for domestic drivers and businesses for the purchase of zero emission vehicles, could increase pace of transition.

The major gap is the need to explain that renewably generated electricity is much cheaper than fossil fuels, but these lower prices are not passed on to users. The artificially high price of electricity is a fundamental barrier to the decarbonisation of transport for businesses and organisations. Passing on the low-cost of renewably generated electricity to users is therefore a core component of a just transition to net zero and should be reflected heavily in the Plan.

See sources below for more information:

Nesta (2023) The electricity-to-gas price ratio explained

Nesta (2024) For the first time, UK household electricity prices rose to levels higher than those in any EU country

International Energy Agency (2024) Rapid rollout of clean technologies makes energy cheaper, not more costly - News - IEA

Question 14 (all organisations)

What does just transition planning mean for your organisation or industry?

A just transition for the transport sector is important

• Strongly agree

Just Transition planning is important for my organisation

• Strongly agree

Just Transition planning is happening in my organisation

• Strongly agree

My organisation needs more support for just transition planning

• Strongly agree

Please tell us more about just transition planning in your organisation (optional)

Just transition is a core part of the Council’s Climate Action Plan, which will set out climate change mitigation and adaptation-based actions required to deliver against the Council’s targets.

Is your sector/organisation doing something others could learn from? (optional)

Question 15 (all organisation)

Which of the following priorities would you consider to be most important to enable you to transition your vehicles to zero emissions alternatives?

Please rate your choices from highest to lowest priority, where 1 is the highest priority. Note the responses have been put in order to reflect the proposed response.

Other (please tell us more) 1

Access to low-cost finance  2         

Reliable infrastructure for vehicles (such as fuel or charging networks) 3

Cost of replacement vehicles needs to come down 4

Mechanism to work with other businesses on fleet transition 5         

Certainty about availability of parts and maintenance services 6

Technology for replacing vehicles needs to be proven 7

If you selected other, please tell us more.

Additional resource to install electric vehicle infrastructure, expanding grid capacity and replacing the fossil fuel powered vehicles in the Council’s fleet is essential. This is particularly essential for large vehicles, as large ultra-low emission vehicles are currently much more expensive than internal combustion engine vehicles.

Passing on the lower costs of renewably generated electricity to users, as detailed in question 1 and 13, is also important to bolster the financial case for accelerating fleet decarbonisation.                                                                             

Question 16: What are your views on the draft indicators we have set out for measuring our progress toward delivering the just transition outcomes for the transport sector?

The indicators will help measure progress towards delivering the just transition outcomes

• Strongly agree

Make a comment about a specific indicator or indicators (optional)

In line with the comments set out in question 1, the following indicators should be added and monitored:

• Modal share of active travel and public transport is crucial to delivering a just transition to net zero and should be monitored. This should be accompanied by a target.
• Total distance covered by high-quality segregated cycling paths, compared to distance of road network in Scotland. This should be accompanied by a target.
• Increasing costs of average second hand vehicles and car insurance to highlight the poverty-alleviation potential of car-free living and active travel.
• Proportion of the most deprived areas that have access to high quality active travel infrastructure.
• Estimated cost savings to the NHS from active travel and the modal shift targets.
• Price of electricity relative to fossil fuels for vehicles.
• Average car size and estimated costs to society of increasing average vehicle size, including estimating infrastructure deterioration from increased use from larger vehicles.
• Total number of flights, estimated emissions of flights and a separate metric capturing estimated emissions of leisure-based flights.

Question 17: If you are aware of any other data being collected that could be used to monitor progress towards any of the outcomes set out in this Plan, please share details below.

The forthcoming Scottish Climate Change Committee Report will set out estimated modal shift required to reach net zero. The CCC’s 7^th carbon budge for the UK notes the following:

“Improvements to make buses and active travel more attractive, affordable, and accessible allow 7% of car demand to be switched to public transport and active travel by 2035, compared to the baseline. This is an ambitious assumption on modal shift, underpinned by evidence on interventions in leading countries, such as Germany and the Netherlands and in towns and cities across the UK.”

Since Scotland has an earlier target of net zero by 2045, these targets will need to be achieved sooner.

It is crucial that this expected transition is reflected in the Plan. Cycling Scotland provide various other data sources that can help to monitor active travel levels. Annual Cycling Monitoring Report 2024 | Cycling Scotland

The Scottish Climate Intelligence Service have been working to develop estimated economic benefits of transitional elements, including active travel, which could help to monitor progress in a standardised way across the 32 local authorities in Scotland.  The SIMD index could be used to inform proximity to areas of deprivation.

About you 

18. What is your name?

 

19. Are you responding as an individual or an organisation?

Organisation

20. What is your organisation?

East Dunbartonshire Council

Sector

Local Government

21. Further information about your organisation's response. This could be information about, for example:

• any research your organisation undertook to inform the response
• any engagement with your members or audience undertaken to inform the response

This is optional.

The proposed responses were distributed to the Council’s Elected Members to invite any input, comments or feedback.

Please add any additional context

22. Where do you live most of the time?

East Dunbartonshire Council Headquarters, Southbank Marina, 12 Strathkelvin Place, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow

Please enter the first half of your postcode. Postcodes will never be published.

How would you describe your local area?

Accessible small town

23. What is your email address?

 

24. The Scottish Government would like your permission to publish your consultation response. Please indicate your publishing preference:

Publish response only (without name)

Information for organisations only:

 

The option 'Publish response only (without name)' refers only to your name, not your organisation’s name. If this option is selected, the organisation name will still be published.

25. Do you consent to Scottish Government contacting you again in relation to this consultation exercise?

Yes

26. I confirm that I have read the privacy policy and consent to the data I provide being used as set out in the policy.

I consent