The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy is a

Scottish Government The Scottish Government (, ) is the executive arm of the devolved government of Scotland. It was formed in 1999 as the Scottish Executive following the 1997 referendum on Scottish devolution, and is headquartered at St Andrew's House in ...

Cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

position with responsibility for the

Net Zero Global net-zero emissions is reached when greenhouse gas emissions and removals due to human activities are in balance. It is often called simply net zero. ''Emissions'' can refer to all greenhouse gases or only carbon dioxide (). Reaching net ze ...

and

energy Energy () is the physical quantity, quantitative physical property, property that is transferred to a physical body, body or to a physical system, recognizable in the performance of Work (thermodynamics), work and in the form of heat and l ...

(where not reserved) policy of Scotland. The incumbent is

Gillian Martin Gillian Anne Martin is a Scottish politician who has served as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy since June 2025. She previously served as Minister for Climate Action between 2023 and 2025, and as Acting Cabinet Secretary for N ...

who has held the brief since June 2025. She previously served as Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy while her predecessor Mairi McAllan was on maternity leave between July 2024 and June 2025.

History

The role was first titled Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, with the initial holder being Michael Matheson, who was appointed in June 2018 following a reshuffle of the

Second Sturgeon government Nicola Sturgeon formed the second Sturgeon government following her Scottish National Party's victory in the 2016 Scottish Parliament election. Sturgeon was nominated by a vote of the 5th Scottish Parliament for appointment to the post of first ...

. Following the formation of the First Yousaf government in March 2023, the Net Zero and Energy role was divided. Màiri McAllan was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, whilst

Neil Gray Neil Charles Gray (born 16 March 1986) is a Scottish politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care since 2024. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Airdr ...

was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy. In June 2023, McAllan's title was retitled as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition. After the February 2024 reshuffle of Yousaf's government the role was merged with the Economy portfolio, to create the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy. In May 2024,

John Swinney John Ramsay Swinney (born 13 April 1964) is a Scottish politician who has served as First Minister of Scotland, first minister of Scotland since 2024. Swinney has served as Leader of the Scottish National Party, leader of the Scottish National ...

renamed the role as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in his government with Màiri McAllan appointed to the role. Between July 2024 and June 2025 Gillian Martin served as Acting Cabinet Secretary while McAllan was on maternity leave. In June 2025, the role was renamed again to Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and Martin was appointed to the role.

Responsibilities

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy is responsible for: * cross government co-ordination of Net Zero policy * climate crisis and environmental protection * Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) * oil and gas * environmental quality * sustainable development * physical and marine environment * flood prevention and coastal erosion * drinking water quality and regulator, Scottish Water, private water, hydronation * marine planning * environmental and climate justice * Emissions Trading Schemes * international climate change * Heat and Energy Efficiency Scotland Agency * decarbonisation of buildings * green skills * Zero Waste Scotland * Future Generations Commissioner * deposit return and waste issues * Green Industrial Strategy (jointly with DFM) * nature recovery targets and NatureScot * circular economy * biodiversity (including endangered species) * energy system; energy policy and strategy; energy consents * hydrogen * carbon capture utilisation and storage * industrial decarbonisation * offshore wind, wave and tidal * Just Transition Fund; Just Transition planning, delivery, and monitoring including Just Transition Commission * Green Growth Accelerator

List of Officeholders

As is typical of Scottish government roles, the Climate Action and Energy portfolio has gone through many iterations since its inception. The incumbent minister is

References

{{Scottish Cabinet Net Zero and Energy Energy ministers Energy in Scotland Environment of Scotland