The Environment =============== 60% of respondents to the Scottish Third Sector Tracker anticipate that climate change will have no impact, or only a small impact, on their organisation. We urge all voluntary organisations to incorporate environmental issues into their planning because:   * Climate change is [felt most starkly](https://www.thinknpc.org/influencing/everyones-environment/) by the groups many voluntary organisations work with.  * Many voluntary organisations have an important story to tell about the contribution they are already making to a more sustainable future through their work, from local food projects to community transport.  * A growing number of funders are interested in these issues, either setting their own targets or requiring fundees to meet conditions such as having an environmental policy in place or reporting on carbon emissions. Donors and staff also increasingly have hopes or expectations about how organisations are addressing their own role in the climate emergency.  The Scottish Government published a [**draft Climate Change Plan in November 2025**](https://www.gov.scot/publications/draft-climate-change-plan-ministerial-statement/), reaffirming its commitment to net‑zero by 2045 and highlighting the need for accelerated action across buildings, transport, land use, and community resilience. Although not final, this plan will shape future policy direction and may lead to new expectations for organisations. Some voluntary organisations will also be impacted by forthcoming national policies and legislation as discussed below  **Energy and buildings**  * The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Bill, originally expected to be introduced during this parliamentary session, has been paused until after the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. Final scope and timelines will depend on the post‑election government.  **Waste and reuse**  * Under [Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030](https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-circular-economy-waste-route-map-2030/pages/1/), the Scottish Government will conduct a review of compliance with commercial recycling requirements in Scotland, and report on this by the end of 2026. New interventions to maximise waste prevention, reuse and recycling will be developed, which may, in turn affect voluntary organisations.  **Justice and adaptation**  * The Scottish National Adaptation Plan (SNAP) 2024-29 was published in September 2024, and sets out the actions that Scottish Government and partners will take to respond to the impacts of climate change.  * Outcome 2 (Communities) of the SNAP, includes building community resilience for emergencies as a key objective. The SNAP notes the role of the third sector to support emergency resilience measures such as sharing and building knowledge and supporting partnerships like the Voluntary Sector Resilience Partnership.   * Through the Growing Climate Confidence project SCVO, with support from Verture (formerly Sniffer), are offering training and guidance on how organisations can address climate resilience.   * Voluntary organisations may also need to consider their approach to supporting people due to the climate risks and impacts there will be on them, e.g. flooding. Prompts for planning  --------------------- Do you have an environmental plan in place for your organisation?   Do you have an adaptation or resilience plan in place for your organisation?  Do you know what steps you could take to reduce your organisation’s environmental impact?  Do you know what your current and potential funders/donors/staff/wider community expect from organisations they fund with regard to the environment?  Do you have an awareness of your (current and future) legal and other responsibilities in this area?  Do you have plans in place to help you to meet these?  Do you understand how climate change is likely to impact on the communities you work with?  Have you connected with your regional community climate action hub?  Sources of support  ------------------- * The [Growing Climate Confidence checkup](https://climateconfident.scot/checkup) helps you to assess where your organisation currently is, and how to make progress towards improving your environmental sustainability.  One to one support is also available with a Climate Development Officer. * The [Growing Climate Confidence website](https://climateconfident.scot/) has a range of useful resources and it will also signpost new Bills and help you to understand the impacts on your organisation.  * The ‘funding’ tab on the [Growing Climate Confidence website](https://climateconfident.scot/) will signpost to funding that is available for this kind of work. You can use the filter function to search for ‘climate’ tagged funds.   * Check the [Growing Climate Confidence website](https://climateconfident.scot/) for access to training on things like resilience and carbon reduction planning workshops.  * If you haven’t yet considered the impact of climate change on the people and communities you work with, the [Everyone’s Environment project](https://www.thinknpc.org/influencing/everyones-environment/) may provide useful food for thought. * The Scottish Government is funding a network of regional community climate action hubs to provide a strategic regional response to climate action.  You can find details of your local hub on the [Scottish Government website](https://www.gov.scot/publications/community-climate-action-hubs-contact-details/)  * SCVO partner Utility Aid can support organisations [net zero, carbon reporting, and reducing energy use](https://www.utility-aid.co.uk/net-zero-carbon-reporting).   Join us at The Gathering  ------------------------- The Gathering 2025 is over, check back later for information about future events. [Previous: The Law](/support/running-your-organisation/shifting-sands/legal) [Back to: Shifting Sands](/support/running-your-organisation/shifting-sands) ### [![Third Force News](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-assets/test/scvo/images/logos/tfn-lochan.svg?version=0.0.1508)](https://tfn.scot)Related news  [Read more](https://tfn.scot/news) [ ![Placeholder illustration](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-platform-assets/scvo/images/placeholder.png?version=) #### How a professional rugby player swapped the pitch for a charity career helping children 3 June 2026 ](https://tfn.scot/news/how-a-professional-rugby-swapped-the-pitch-for-a-charity-career-helping-children "How a professional rugby player swapped the pitch for a charity career helping children") [ ![Placeholder illustration](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-platform-assets/scvo/images/placeholder.png?version=) #### Child poverty plan could be challenged in court 3 June 2026 ](https://tfn.scot/news/child-poverty-plan-could-be-challenged-in-court "Child poverty plan could be challenged in court") [ ![Placeholder illustration](https://storage.googleapis.com/scvo-platform-assets/scvo/images/placeholder.png?version=) #### Classroom mobile phone ban needs harm reduction monitoring says charity 3 June 2026 ](https://tfn.scot/news/classroom-mobile-phone-ban-needs-harm-reduction-monitoring-says-charity "Classroom mobile phone ban needs harm reduction monitoring says charity") --- ## About SCVO SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations) is the national membership organisation for Scotland's voluntary sector. Our role is to champion the role of voluntary organisations in Scotland and to support them to do work that has a positive impact. SCVO supports members and the wider voluntary sector with all aspects of setting up and running a voluntary organisation. SCVO represents the needs and concerns of the voluntary sector to the Scottish government in Holyrood and UK government and Westminster. Through our learning and events programme SCVO offers training and development opportunities to the sector. Members access an extensive membership benefits package including specialist, in-depth, 1-to-1 guidance from our Information Services team and from professional service partners. Access to exclusive membership networks (including comms, employers, governance and policy) supports members to grow their connections, stay up to date, exchange ideas and views with peers, and learn through tailored, learning opportunities. SCVO members enjoy free access to Funding Scotland Premium to stay on top of funding opportunities to support their organisation’s financial resilience. Discounts and savings savings on SCVO products and services (including our HR service, managed IT support, payroll service and events and training) and partner offers provide members with support to allow them to focus on delivering their organisation’s goals. Further SCVO products and services include [extensive digital support](https://scvo.scot/support/digital), a climate action resource [Growing Climate Confidence](https://climateconfident.scot), a voluntary sector publication [Third Force News](https://tfn.scot) and a voluntary sector jobs and recruitment service [Goodmoves](https://goodmoves.org). For more information on SCVO membership, visit [SCVO membership](https://scvo.scot/membership)