The Minister for Climate Action was a junior ministerial post in the

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 ...

. As a result, the minister did not attend the

Scottish Cabinet The Scottish Cabinet is the main decision-making body of the Scottish Government, the devolved government of Scotland. It is headed by the first minister, and made up of the deputy first minister, cabinet secretaries of the Scottish Government ...

but reported to the

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy is a Scottish Government Cabinet position with responsibility for the Net Zero and energy (where not reserved) policy of Scotland. The incumbent is Gillian Martin who has held the brief since ...

. The role was expanded to include the Environment in June 2023 from its original role as Minister for Energy. In June 2025, the office was abolished and its responsibilities absorbed into the role of

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy is a Scottish Government Cabinet position with responsibility for the Net Zero and energy (where not reserved) policy of Scotland. The incumbent is Gillian Martin who has held the brief since ...

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 ...

served in the role for the entirety of its existence. However, between June 2024 and July 2025,

Alasdair Allan Alasdair James Allan (born 6 May 1971) is a Scottish politician serving as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency since 2007. A member of the Scottish National Party (SNP), he served in the Scottis ...

served as Acting Minister while Martin covered for

Màiri McAllan Màiri Louise McAllan (born 14 February 1993) is a Scottish politician serving as Cabinet Secretary for Housing since 2025. She has previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy from 2024 to 2025, Cabinet Secretary for Transp ...

as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy during her maternity leave.

History

The office was created by First Minister

Humza Yousaf Humza Haroon Yousaf (; born 7 April 1985) is a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland and Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from March 2023 to May 2024. He served under his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon as Scottish ...

List of office holders

As Minister for Energy from March 2023 until June 2023; Minister for Energy and the Environment from June 2023 until February 2024; and Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work from February 2024 until May 2024.

References

{{Junior Scottish Government Ministers Scottish Parliament Ministerial posts of the Scottish Government Energy in Scotland