Draft Just Transition Plan for Transport

We held a public consultation seeking views on the Scottish Government’s Draft Transport Just Transition Plan. The consultation was open for 12 weeks from 24 February to 19 May 2025.

 It was structured around the five key sections of the Draft Plan:

• Vision and Outcomes,
• People and Communities – ensuring they are supported in switching to EVs and in accessing the necessary EV infrastructure, providing them with both incentives to travel more sustainably by accessing more easily bus and train services and disincentives to car use,
• Workers – ensuring they are supported to get new and enhanced skills across transport and adjacent sectors,
• Businesses and Organisations - helping small hauliers access expert advice on fleet transition and support businesses realising economic opportunities of manufacturing decarbonised HDVs, producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and installing and servicing charging/refuelling infrastructure, and
• Monitoring and Reporting.

In addition, a series of in person and online events were held across Scotland in order to facilitate discussion and gather qualitative feedback about the draft plan and proposals. These events were hosted by public and third sector partner organisations in order to target the views of particular stakeholder groups (such as equality groups, transport workers, and different business sectors)

A total of 123 responses were received. This included 55 (45%) from individuals and 68 (55%) from organisations.

During the engagement sessions, attendees shared their feedback in relation to the consultation questions and their insights were considered alongside the formal consultation responses. A total of 10 summary reports from these discussions were included in the analysis.

12 reports from a previous public participation programme (conducted in 2023) were also included in the analysis for comparison with previous engagement programmes.

We commissioned an independent research company, Wellside Research, to conduct the analysis of the consultation responses and the feedback we received from engagement sessions. This analysis report has been published on the Scottish Government website which you can access using this link - Transport Just Transition Plan: Consultation Analysis - gov.scot

Additionally we have published the consultation responses, where permission has been given to do so, on Citizen Space.

Across the consultation, the key feedback included:

• That the plan should be much more action-focused, outlining how change will be achieved, lines of responsibility, and timescales; 
• The need to improve public transport to make this a viable, accessible and attractive option as well as improving active travel opportunities and infrastructure. Respondents also felt there was a need for active travel and public transport to be better integrated;
• More focus was needed on the sustainable transport hierarchy;
• More detailed consideration was needed of different vulnerable groups and those in rural areas;
• Greater support was expressed for ‘carrot’ rather than ‘stick’ approaches, although a few organisations did support the use of more punitive policies and traffic management approaches;
• Ensuring that policies provide targeted support and mitigations where needed to avoid any unintended consequences;
• Ongoing meaningful engagement with stakeholders and collaborative working approaches as being key to successful design and delivery; 
• That other policy areas and economic sectors will need to be considered and included for the Plan to be successful; and 
• The need for financial and other support for individuals, communities, and businesses, as well as the public sector, third sector, and education providers to deliver the required changes.

Several individuals and organisations were resistant to any changes which may negatively impact, penalise or increase costs for vulnerable groups with no other transport options aside from private car use. In addition, several individuals were sceptical of the draft Plan or the need for climate change actions throughout their responses. This illustrates the importance of positive communication and messaging with the general public to secure support and buy-in. 

We are now carefully considering the feedback we have received through the consultation, and are using it to help inform the future of just transition planning for the transport sector.

We will begin development of a full Transport Just Transition Plan, for publication following the publication of the final Climate Change Plan (CCP), which is currently out for consultation. We will respond to your feedback that the plan should be much more action-focused, and will outline how change will be achieved for the sector.

Publishing the plan after the CCP will also allow for additional just transition feedback collected through the draft CCP consultation to be incorporated into the plan.