Hansard

As part of our pre-budget scrutiny for 2026-27, the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee considered the role of the culture sector in addressing climate change and reaching net zero. Our findings and recommendations were set out in our pre-budget report and in our letter to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, the latter of which has been included in the report on the draft climate change plan.

Committee members and I attended the museums and galleries strategy symposium this week—albeit for a parliamentary hustings—where it was noted that some of the issues that the culture sector faces are caused by a lack of funding or capital investment and by the rising costs of fuel and energy. Those will only be exacerbated by current global events, which will put further pressure on the sector.

I thank the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee for its work on the draft climate change plan, and I welcome the opportunity to take part in this debate.

During our evidence taking, we heard that organisations across the culture sector are implementing a wide range of measures to reduce emissions and contribute to net zero ambitions. The measures that were highlighted include energy efficiency upgrades, circular economy initiatives and carbon budgeting and reporting, to name just a few.

We also heard that the culture and heritage sectors play a significant role in shaping public attitudes. For example, the “Waters Rising” exhibition at Perth Museum was highlighted for its work in engaging audiences with climate themes and we heard that projects such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra’s “Sounds of the Deep” schools initiative are demonstrating how the sector can help to foster climate literacy and dialogues in our country. In addition, Culture for Climate Scotland told us that

“Cultural organisations … reach the hard-to-reach groups”

and facilitate

“creative, accessible and restorative ways of having conversations about climate change”.—[Official Report, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, 18 September 2025; c 4.]

The committee recognises the role of the culture sector in shaping understanding of climate change, and we recommend that that role be recognised in the Scottish Government’s climate change plan. Perhaps further initiatives could be given some support by the Government.

However, Culture for Climate Scotland also highlighted concerns that funds that are being mobilised in the culture sector to address climate change might not currently be used to their full advantage. We recommend that consideration be given to how funding to support net zero ambitions could be used to further the impact of the culture sector on public attitudes.

We heard that achieving net zero will require substantial capital investment in the culture and heritage sectors. As I said, this is only going to get more challenging in the coming years. Stakeholders told us that retrofitting buildings, upgrading heating systems and improving energy infrastructure are costly and complex pieces of work, particularly for listed or heritage properties. National Museums Scotland highlighted challenges in sourcing alternative carbon-free heating for sites that are currently heated by gas boilers. It explained that that is not only technologically challenging but expensive and beyond the annual operating budgets of most museums and heritage bodies. It said that making the required changes will be possible only through partnership working and major external funds. As such, we ask that the Scottish Government outlines how it will address the substantial capital investment that will be required if the culture and heritage sectors are to meet the climate change and net zero ambitions.

We heard that audience travel to and from events and venues represents the largest source of emissions associated with the culture sector. Stakeholders suggested that it may therefore be useful to focus on that area in order to maximise the impact of spend on reducing the sector’s climate impact. We heard that the reliance on international visitors to, for example, the Edinburgh festivals raises difficult questions for the sector about the impact of international travel, if that is not mitigated in some way.

The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture told us that the Scottish Government is focusing efforts on increasing public transport use. He stated that the culture sector should be

“properly served with the ability for people to travel with the least environmental impact possible.”—[ Official Report, Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, 25 September 2025; c 42.]

The committee welcomes the confirmation that efforts are being focused on public transport use. However, we ask that the Scottish Government outlines how it is addressing the aviation emissions that are associated with audience travel and festivals.

I look forward to hearing the remaining contributions to today’s debate.

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