10th September 2025
As momentum builds towards the next Scottish Government elections, we’ve written to the leaders of all parties and called on them to commit to strong action to keep Scotland on track to achieve its legally binding emission reduction targets alongside actions to improve the health of the nation and establish the long-term resilience of our health and care services.
Evidence of climate change and its impacts on health are already being seen in Scotland and the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related events pose significant challenges to Scotland’s healthcare system.
High temperatures during heatwaves are impacting health and heat-related deaths are predicted to rise over the next decades. Periods of prolonged rainfall have resulted in widespread flooding, disruption to transport and infrastructure, trauma and death. Poor air quality is associated with multiple negative health outcomes including asthma and other respiratory illnesses in children. Climate change is bringing wildfires to Scotland, previously rare events, which in addition to causing fire risk to people and homes, affect a considerable surrounding area with dangerous smoke particulates known to seriously damage health.
The next government elected in Scotland will be leading at a pivotal moment in the nation’s history when we need to transform our energy system, our food system, our health system, and our infrastructure to deliver a better, fairer and healthier society resilient to the threats of climate change.
Protecting health and our health service will require action that delivers:
- An accelerated transition to clean energy
- Low-carbon, energy efficient homes
- Clean ways to travel
- A nutritious, sustainable food system
- A healthy natural environment
- Resilient health and care services