10 things Scots really think about Net Zero: How to talk about climate in 2025

Attitudes to climate are changing across the country. 

Scotland remains a nation of nature lovers but – as the country becomes increasingly set and polarised on issues like Net Zero – the way Scots talk about the climate and nature crises is increasingly important. 

The Britain Talks Climate & Nature results have been released for 2025. Asking questions of over 7000 people across the UK – it’s the most comprehensive report on what the UK thinks about climate.

Now in its fifth year, there were a number of key findings about how the conversation about topics like Net Zero and renewables are changing. 

74% of people across Britain consider climate change important. The number of people on the fence on issues has shrunk, with only a fraction having no opinions on issues such as emissions targets and turbines. Topics are becoming increasingly polarised. Particularly at a policy level. 

Scotland – as ever – is a case apart from the rest of the UK. The country was given its own focus. At the Scotland launch for these survey results on Tuesday 28 October, the East Lothian Climate Hub were invited to speak about the work of the local climate action hub project. 

At a time when BTC 2025 reports that trust in politics and government action on climate is collapsing, Scots showed that trust in locally-led action was strong. 

43% of Scots said they felt empowered by local consultation on sustainability developments, versus the UK average of just 27%. This is not the only place where Scots bucked national trends. 

As well as a case for a more local-led, community approach to climate issues it shows that there is no single UK-wide view on climate.  

As attitudes become increasingly fractured and set among different demographics, the consensus is that climate and nature is one of the key issues facing the UK. 68% of Scots want a more ambitious response to the climate and nature crises. Ideally, tailored to place and led by the communities that live there.  

Here are 10 takeaways on Scotland’s attitude to climate resilience and how to engage with an increasingly polarised country.  

What Scotland really thinks about the Climate and Nature Crises

1. Scots are more engaged than the rest of UK when it comes to climate

   1. The proportion of progressive, action-focused audiences discovered by the survey in Scotland were higher than the national average.  24% (+4% RoUK)  Dissenting disruptors 16% ClimateActivists (+4% RoUK).

2. 68% of Scots want more ambitious climate action, but don’t necessarily trust climate policy.

3. Nature and wildlife is the number one concern for Scots

   1. BUT one fifth of Scots still don’t see climate change as an urgent issue. 19% of respondents did not see it affecting them for at least a decade. This was +3% higher than the RoUK average.

4. 58% of Scots take pride in the nation’s renewable energy industry

5. This is compared to 46% who feel pride in North Sea oil production.

6. However, renewables infrastructure is more divisive in Scotland than the RoUK 

   1. 22% of Scots say they don’t like seeing turbines vs 29% in favour. The UK average is 15% with negative opinions of wind turbines.    

7. Scots have made up their mind on Net Zero with only 22-28% on the fence.

   1. More Scots feel hard done by Net Zero with 21% feeling unfairly treated by climate policy, vs 16% RoUK. Similarly, Scots are split on the cost of Net Zero by 2030, 44 in favour vs 35 opposed – with just over a fifth without a view. 

8. The country is split between Holyrood and Westminster on where they want climate leadership – roughly along establishment lines

9. Scots have far more belief in their power to affect climate policy – with 43% seeing local council consultations as effective vs 27% RoUK.

10. Scots farmers are the most concerned by the impacts of climate change – with 65% expecting farmers to suffer most vs 59% RoUK

11. Scots are increasingly sceptical of the agenda and cost of sustainability in politics. The role of locally-led action and consultation has never been more important.

The Dos and Don’ts of talking about climate 

• Do: Explain

  Climate communication is about clarity, passion and cutting to the heart of specialist topics. 

• Do: Inspire

  Locally specific stories and case studies cut through and carry greater credibility.  

• Don’t: Take support for granted

  While there is majority support for climate action in Scotland there are a multitude of nuanced attitudes and views within each topic.