The Landscape Institute (LI) welcomes the opportunity to respond to Scotland’s Draft Climate Change Plan
2026–2040. We support the level of ambition set out in the Plan, including the adoption of carbon budgets,
the emphasis on a just transition, and the recognition that climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity
recovery must be delivered together.

Landscape has a critical role in delivering the Plan. The landscape profession works across land use,
climate, nature, infrastructure and communities, turning national policy objectives into coherent, place-based
and deliverable outcomes. Landscape-led approaches are fundamental to reducing emissions, supporting
adaptation, restoring biodiversity, shaping sustainable transport, managing flood risk, and delivering highquality
places that support health, wellbeing and inclusive economic resilience. The skills of landscape
professionals can apply sustainable and nature-based solutions through planning, design and management
thar will help to create places that are more resilient to climate change impacts.

Our response focuses on delivery. In particular, it highlights the importance of embedding landscape
expertise early in implementation, strengthening skills and public sector capacity, and ensuring that
monitoring frameworks capture place-based and environmental outcomes alongside emissions reduction.