Updated Scottish statutory guidance has arrived, EAUC is here to help with what comes next
EAUC's Scotland Director Matt Woodthorpe reflects on the publication of the Scottish Government's updated statutory guidance on climate change duties for public bodies, and what comes next for the post-16 education sector.
On 6 March 2026, the Scottish Government published updated statutory guidance to support public bodies to implement their duties under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.
This long-awaited and much-welcomed update to the guidance is the first since 2011 and includes a sector annex for higher and further education, which was shaped and informed by EAUC.
What is new in the guidance?
Increased clarity of expectations across the three parts of the Duties will help Scotland's colleges and universities to reassess their progress to date and refocus action moving forward. Climate mitigation, climate adaptation and embedding sustainability are reframed as core functions, alongside new expectations regarding the supporting leadership, governance and finance environment.
We are pleased to note that the FHE sector annex now explicitly draws out key expectations around embedding sustainability in learning and teaching, research practices, and the internationalisation processes. This reflects points raised in our consultation response workshops last May.
What comes next?
As the sector gets to grips with these changes, EAUC will be there to help. We will be creating tools and resources for you to use, facilitating peer-to-peer learning through our communities of practice, and delivering advocacy with key stakeholders on behalf of the sector.
Next week’s EAUC Scotland conference will include dedicated workshops exploring what the statutory guidance update means for your institution, both in terms of leadership and governance, and financial planning and reporting.
The new guidance might feel daunting. It is certainly difficult to say we need to do more at a time when financial pressures are so acute. But we must recognise that proactive and consistent leadership and action for sustainability delivers more resilient institutions and better equips our communities for the future ahead.
| 26 March 2026 | |
| Resource | |
| Matt Woodthorpe, EAUC Scotland Director |
