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(a) The objectives of the levy

The levy is designed to raise money from business flights to be invested in carbon reduction and active travel projects to reduce the impact of business travel and improve health and wellbeing.

In 2018 the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform approved a proposal to focus the money raised from the levy to reduce the Scottish Government’s carbon emissions to help compensate for the carbon emitted from business travel, which was the original purpose of the Levy. This has the benefit of reducing the Scottish Government’s carbon emissions in a measurable and reportable way.

(b) Projects are selected based on the potential for carbon reduction either via fully or partially funding projects, funding behaviour change initiatives, training or promoting active travel options.

(c) The carbon levy is administered by the Environmental Management Team within Workplace Division in the Scottish Procurement & Property Directorate.

(d) The rate of the carbon levy has not been reviewed since it was created in 2009. Officials are currently carrying out a review. The operation of the levy was reviewed in 2018.

(e) A review is currently underway. No changes have been made to the rates since the levy was introduced. The review in 2018 resulted in a change to the way the levy was spent. Agreement was given to support using the levy to fund carbon reduction projects on the Core Scottish Government Estate.

3 Projects have been funded since the levy was introduced.

1) Project 1

(a) Climate Change Saltire Fellowships

(b) Greener Scotland

(c) The Scottish Government agreed to set up a carbon emissions off-set/reduction fund as part of the bid to secure the 2014 Commonwealth Games for Glasgow. The fellowship scheme targeted resources to students from Commonwealth countries least able to deal with the impacts of climate change.

(d) N/A

(e) £40,000

(f) Not Measured

(g) N/A

2) Project 2

(a) Scotland Lights up Malawi

(b) 2020 Climate Group, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Glasgow Caledonian University

(c) To bring safe, solar energy to rural communities in Malawi replacing paraffin lights with rechargeable solar lighting.

(d) N/A

(e) £200,000

(f) Not Measured

(g) N/A

3) Project 3

(a) Solar PV

(b) Scottish Government

(c) To provide funding to install solar panels on SAH to demonstrate installing renewables on a listed building in a conservation area and world heritage site.

(d) GHG Protocol

(e) £200,000

(f) 39,128 Kg CO2 saved to date.

(g) N/A

The information requested is not held centrally by the Scottish Government. The member may wish to contact NHS Grampian directly for this information.

This is an operational matter for ScotRail Trains Ltd. The member may wish to contact ScotRail Trains Ltd directly to obtain this information.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I was the only Scottish Minister in attendance at COP30 in Belem, Brazil. I was supported by three Scottish Government officials. The delegation attended COP30 in Belem from 10 - 13 November 2025. No Special Advisors attended.

Details of all Ministerial engagements and expenses are proactively published by the Scottish Government, including the costs of travel and accommodation. The proactive release covering November 2025 will be published in due course.

However, the programme included meetings and events with the Under2 Coalition and Regions4 Climate Networks, where the Scottish Government is co-Chair and President respectively, Global South civil society partners and youth leaders, and Climate Justice Fund Partners and funding recipients.

The Scottish Government’s objectives for engagement at COP30 were to:

• Strengthen Scotland’s climate finance and justice leadership,
• Continue to position Scotland as a leader in just transition,
• Build recognition of, and strengthen the voice of, states, regions and devolved governments, and;
• Enhance Scotland’s diplomatic and economic standing.

I undertook a full programme of bilateral and multilateral meetings, roundtables and speaking engagements in support of Scotland's climate priorities, including:

• Strengthening the influence of devolved, state and regional governments within international climate discussions,
• Ensuring climate justice and debt justice is at the heart of international climate action; and
• Showcasing Scotland’s leadership in renewable energy as part of an equitable, just and inclusive transition to net zero.

In support of international efforts to address the impacts of climate change, the Scottish Government confirmed funding for loss and damage, human rights and adaptation projects, as part of the £36 million Climate Justice Fund. Recognising that communities in the Global South, who have contributed least to global warming, are being hit hardest by the impacts of the climate crisis, £540,000 Climate Justice funding will be awarded to nine Latin American organisations supporting indigenous groups.

The remaining funding will help communities prepare for the known impacts of climate change – such as flooding and drought. It includes:

• £150,000 grant funding through the Climate Justice Fund to support a UN Special Rapporteur on Climate Change and Human Rights.
• £100,000 funding to Regions4 to deliver a pilot project aimed at helping a community in the Global South reduce its vulnerability against climate impacts, such as extreme weather or food and water insecurity, in a way that tackles existing inequalities.

More information on this can be found here: Supporting global climate action - gov.scot

Evaluation of COP30 engagement outcomes is a continuous process undertaken by Scottish Government Officials and Ministers. This evaluation takes place through the ongoing management of relationships with stakeholders that the Scottish Government engaged with at COP30. A full summary of the my activities at COP30 will be published in due course, in line with our standard transparency reporting on Ministerial international engagements.

The Scottish Government will draw on the discussions, learning and outcomes from COP30 to help guide Scotland’s approach to reaching net zero, including our Climate Change Plan, taking account of international perspectives and emerging global solutions. As always, officials will continue to engage directly with our international partners in a reciprocal programme of learning and capacity building to ensure that the Scottish Government’s domestic climate change policies are ambitious and effective.

My overseas travel for COP30 was approved in line with ministerial travel policy.

Associated costs for supporting officials in Belem, COP30, were:

• Flights x3 Officials - £19,060
• Accommodation x3 Officials - £18,698
• Subsistence and travel x3 Officials - £414
• Other associated costs (vaccinations) - £252

Any business flights taken by Scottish Government ministers and employees are offset by a carbon levy. The levy is used to fund carbon reduction projects that compensate for the carbon emissions generated.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41890 on 1 December 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.