Minutes: 16 December 2025

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take items 2, 3 and 5 in private.

2. Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill (UK Parliament legislation) (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard at last week's meeting.

3. Work programme (In Private):

The Committee considered its work programme.

The Committee considered draft correspondence in relation to the MV Glen Rosa. Various changes were agreed and the two letters were agreed.

The Committee agreed to appoint Edward Mountain as the Committee's reporter for the Rural Affair and Islands Committee's consideration on the draft Climate Change Plan.

The Committee agreed to issue a targeted call for views on the National Bus Travel Concession Schemes (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026.

4. Draft Climate Change Plan:

The Committee took evidence from—

Lloyd Austin, Policy Advisor, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland;

Professor James Curran, Member, Climate Emergency Response Group;

Dr Mark Winskel, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh;

Jess Pepper, Founder and Director, Climate Café;

Professor Kevin Anderson, Professor of Energy and Climate Change, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research;

and then from—

Philip Gomm, Head of External Communications, RAC Foundation;

Andy Poole, Head of Environmental Policy, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT);

Jarrod Birch, Head of Policy, ChargeUK;

Professor Jillian Anable, Chair in Transport and Energy, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds.

In relation to discussion on livestock farming, Edward Mountain declared an interest in a farming partnership in Moray that has livestock.

5. Draft Climate Change Plan (In Private):

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the evidence heard to its next meeting.