The Scottish Climate Intelligence Service has had a busy month building local authority capacity and capability for area-wide emissions reduction. Highlights include:
- Conclusion of 1-1 Support Plan discussions with all 32 local authorities.
- Publication of our Annual Impact Report 2025-6
- Publication of SCIS Insight Briefing: Social Benefits of Heat Networks
- Islands + Family Gathering
- Presentations at SCOTS, HOPS and more
Programme updates
1. Support plans
Based on a personalised needs assessment, our Support Plans are co-created with local authority officers to ensure SCIS is providing the most effective, tailored capacity-building support for area-wide emissions reduction that we can.
These plans are reviewed annually in conversation with local authority officers, providing space to reflect on progress to-date and identify next steps to continue and build momentum, helping everyone to understand where we’re going and how we’re going to get there.
2. Annual Impact Report 2025-6
SCIS has published its Annual Impact Report 2025-6. In it you will find a summary of our progress across 2025-6, examples of our internal and external capacity building work with local authorities across Scotland, and a look ahead to what comes next.
3. Latest Insight briefing
SCIS Insight briefings highlight the key social benefits and real value of climate interventions that local authorities could implement across Scotland.
This briefing - Heat Networks - has been produced by SCIS colleagues working on the UK Co-Benefits Atlas. It highlights the social benefits of heat network interventions, demonstrating how investments in heat networks not only reduces emissions but help local authorities deliver key service outcomes, while reducing strain on public finances in the long-term.
4. Islands + Family Gathering
Earlier this month, we hosted our final Family Gathering online for Island and rural local authorities who were unable to make our in-person events last month. We were glad to host Argyll and Bute, Comhairle nan Eiliean Siar, Perth and Kinross Council and Shetland Island Councils respectively to discuss local authority calendars, deliver models, adaptation work and partner engagement for climate action.
Wider engagement
As ever, SCIS continues to be a ready and willing collaborator with those supporting local government to reduce area-wide emissions across Scotland. Last month this included:
- Presentation and at South Lanarkshire’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee to get approval for dashboard publication.
- Transition Pathway workshop at North Lanarkshire council, exploring and analysing the council’s pathways to decarbonise heat in buildings by 2045.
- Presentation at HOPS Conference 2026
- Internal workshop with East Lothian’s Net Zero County Team
- Presentation at West Lothian Community Planning Partnership
What’s coming up?
Over the coming months, SCIS will be developing our Delivery Manuals for cross-sector local authority climate action, continuing to deliver workshops for committees and cross-service area teams across Scotland and developing our bespoke Indicator Dashboard launching in Q3.
If you would like to find out more about the SCIS programme, you can visit our website, sign up to our quarterly newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn. You can also contact the team at info@climateintelligenceservice.scot.