CXC Newsletter: January 2024

Happy new year to everyone! Our first newsletter of 2024 introduces our new Director of Policy, four recently published reports and three open invitations to quote for specific research projects.

1. ClimateXChange appoints new Policy Director
2. Leveraging local and community energy for a just transition
3. Driving emission reductions through the public sector supply chain
4. Private sector drivers for climate action in Scottish agriculture
5. Electricity system security of supply in Scotland
6. Open research project calls on heat and energy efficiency regulations, mental health and wellbeing, and the Scottish National Adaptation Plan.

1. ClimateXChange appoints new Policy Director

We are delighted to have Dr Kate Donovan join ClimateXChange as our new Director of Policy. She brings research expertise in climate risk and adaptation, and policy connections through membership of the Scottish Science Advisory Council. Dr Donovan takes over from Professor Dave Reay, who is now co-chair of Scotland’s Just Transition Commission.

New CXC Policy Director

2. Leveraging local and community energy for a just transition

This research explored developments in local and community energy, and assessed key innovations, opportunities and barriers associated with them.

The study found that local and community energy can directly contribute to all eight of Scotland’s National Just Transition Outcomes.

Local and community energy report

3. Driving emission reductions through the public sector supply chain

The purchase of goods, services and works can account for more than 70% of a public body’s overall greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland. Targeting these indirect scope 3 emissions could result in significant emissions reduction across public bodies.

The report provides evidence for practical approaches and tools that public bodies can use to better understand and thereby reduce these emissions.

Public sector supply chain report

4. Private sector drivers for climate action in Scottish agriculture

Consumer demand for low-carbon goods is set to increase, so decarbonising value chains will be part of staying in business in a competitive market, according to this report.

The research found that the main driver placed on Scottish agricultural producers from the private sector is to complete baseline carbon audits of their operations. Although this is not currently widespread, it is common in some sub-sectors and is anticipated to rapidly spread across the whole industry.

Private sector drivers in agriculture report

5. Electricity system security of supply in Scotland

This report explores issues around security of supply in Scotland’s electricity system in the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The researchers examined international examples of national and regional electricity systems transitioning to net zero, and used scenario modelling to quantify security of supply for the expected technology pathway in Scotland.

Electricity system security report

6. Open research project calls

We commission our research projects on behalf of Scottish Government policy teams working to tackle climate change and meet Scotland's net zero targets. To make sure you don't miss any open research calls between newsletters, sign up to get email notifications directly to your inbox as soon as they are published. Sign up on our website.

We currently have three open invitations to quote for specific research projects. You can get the details for each project on our Working with us page.

• Providing flexibility in heat and energy efficiency regulations - personal circumstances (Closes 25 January)
• Climate change and mental health & wellbeing in Scotland – an evidence review (Closes 26 January)
• Monitoring outcomes of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan (Closes 12 February)

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ClimateXChange is Scotland's centre of expertise on climate change. We provide a research, advice and analysis service to policy teams and associated public agencies. We are funded by the Scottish Government.