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As set out in our Heat in Buildings Strategy (published in October 2021), the equivalent of 50,000 non-domestic buildings must convert to zero emissions heating by 2030 in order to meet our interim climate targets. We will therefore consult during 2023 on a Heat in Buildings Bill to phase out fossil fuel boilers in Scotland’s homes and buildings and move to clean heating systems.

Since the size and energy consumption of our non-domestic buildings varies considerably, we said in our 2022 Climate Change Plan Monitoring Report that we would adopt a more appropriate indicator based on fossil fuel heat demand. Converting the equivalent of 50,000 non-domestic buildings (existing in 2020) to zero emissions heat by 2030 would bring the commercial sector fossil fuel heat consumption to 5,000 GWh or less.

The latest data for fossil fuel heat consumption from the commercial sector was 11,170 GWh in 2020. We will develop our approach for this indicator as part of our Heat in Buildings Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, due later this year, and use that in future monitoring.

Ministers will continue to meet COSLA and individual local authorities on a regular basis to cover a range of issues, including adaptation to the impact of climate change.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with COSLA and SOLACE to agree a New Deal for Local Government in Scotland with the aim of providing greater flexibility over local funding, with clear accountability for delivery on shared priorities and outcomes, such as climate change.

In February, I wrote to COSLA setting out my view that tackling flooding remains a top priority for the Scottish Government and developing a level of resilience to our future flood exposure is one of our greatest climate challenges. The Scottish Government remains committed to improving flood resilience in Scotland, and it is imperative that we make best use of the resources already allocated for this. I have also encouraged COSLA to play an active part in consultation on new a flooding strategy for Scotland recognising how we can build community flood resilience and engage a broader range of delivery partners to deliver more diverse flood management actions faster. A joint Scottish Government/COSLA Flood Risk Management Working Group is considering funding arrangements for flood risk management actions going forward. Managing our exposure to floods and their impacts is a significant and growing challenge as climate change brings more severe and frequent flood events.

We are in discussion with COSLA and the Scottish Cities Alliance about the development of a framework between national and local government to agree shared actions and approaches to delivering climate change action, enabling better alignment between national and local targets and to jointly address the challenges and barriers to delivery.

The estimated number and percentage of domestic properties by Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) energy efficiency rating band are published in the ‘Scottish House Condition Survey (SHCS): Key Findings’ report.

The latest published data are available at: , which show that around 1.4 million dwellings, representing 55% of the housing stock had an EPC rating lower than Band C (based on the latest SAP 2012 EPC methodology).

The latest estimates are for 2019. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the fieldwork for the 2020 SHCS was suspended in March 2020 and did not resume. The 2021 SHCS was also impacted and was undertaken using a non-contact approach. The results are not directly comparable to those from previous years and will be published as experimental statistics on 30 May 2023.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-17263 on 4 May 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

In December 2022, we published our Hydrogen Action Plan setting out the actions necessary to support the development of the hydrogen economy in Scotland. These actions, include providing funding through the Scottish Government's £180m Emerging Energy Technologies Fund to support renewable hydrogen production. In addition to this we will publish our Hydrogen Export Plan later this year and we continue to assist development of a strong domestic supply chain by working with our agency partners to attract and support companies. To that end the Scottish Government hosted a Hydrogen Supply Chain Event in September 2022, which brought together over 200 stakeholders to promote and build opportunities across the value chain.

The membership of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on the Climate Emergency comprises:

• Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition (Chair)
• Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance
• Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy
• Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
• Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
• Minister for Transport
• Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity
• Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights
• Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade
• Minister for Energy

The date of the next Working Group on PCSD meeting has yet to be set. We are looking to arrange the next meeting of the Working Group in Autumn 2023.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a Net Zero, Wellbeing economy and a highly skilled workforce is critical to this ambition. Our National Strategy for Economic Transformation is clear that we must adapt our education and skills system to become more responsive and agile so that it can deliver on our key priorities.

Published in 2020, the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) provides a framework for green skills planning and investment across priority sectors directly affected in the transition to net zero: Energy, Construction, Transport, Manufacturing and Agriculture and land-use.

The Scottish Government’s Making Scotland’s Future programme brings together public sector partners, including Skills Development Scotland, to support the manufacturing sector. The workstream intersects with CESAP and has identified the skills implications of the transition to net zero for the manufacturing sector including the rise in demand for data and digital skills, increased need for design, analytical and technical skills on top of the requirement for resilience and adaptability in the face of technological change.

SDS is working alongside the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) to support industry including SMEs which make up 97% of the manufacturing business in Scotland. NMIS supports businesses to define their skills needs and support the transition to net zero, as well as providing training and professional development courses.

SDS have also commissioned Ekosgen to work up an evidence base for energy skills in the Inner Moray Firth to support the ScotWind project in the area. The piece commissioned by SDS was to explore the existing skills in the area and where gaps would be in supporting the project. This work was carried out alongside work which has been undertaken by the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council, who have produced a skills roadmap to understand the skills needs to support the likely increased demand for Scotland’s potential offshore wind energy.

This work will support the development of a Just Transition Plan for the Manufacturing Sector.

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a Net Zero, Wellbeing economy and a highly skilled workforce is critical to this ambition. Our National Strategy for Economic Transformation is clear that we must adapt our education and skills system to become more responsive and agile so that it can deliver on our key priorities.

Published in 2020, the Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan (CESAP) also provides a framework for green skills planning and investment across priority sectors directly affected in the transition to net zero: Energy, Construction, Transport, Manufacturing and Agriculture and land-use.

The Scottish Government Independent Commission to review land-based learning published their report (January 2023) with 22 recommendations on how to attract and improve the learning pathways to equip more people with the skills and knowledge needed to work in Scotland’s land-based and aquaculture sectors, including emerging green occupations that are crucial to our climate and nature targets. The Scottish Government is committed to considering the report and will produce a response in 2023.

This will support the development of a Just Transition Plan for Agriculture and Land Use.

As detailed in my reply to question S6W-15995, on 11 April 2023, the Ministerial Working Group met on 29 June 2022.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers