The North-east of Scotland needs immediate action to secure its future as a leader in the UK’s energy and net zero transition.
Despite a £500 million Just Transition Fund and years of promises, researchers at University of Aberdeen’s Just Transition Lab say the region still lacks a coherent, locally-led and inclusive Just Transition plan.
The call for action comes in the wake of the Scottish Affairs Committee’s October report on the future of Scotland’s oil and gas industry, which acknowledges that the North Sea basin is now ‘geologically mature’ and domestic production is expected to follow a trend of ‘continued decline.’ The report recognises that this decline is already impacting workers and communities in the North-east.
The Just Transition Lab highlights the urgent need for a strategic framework to guide investment, support workers and engage communities in shaping a decarbonised future. The region, home to 97% of Scotland’s oil and gas employment, faces significant risks without a clear plan - including job losses, declining public trust and missed opportunities for innovation and growth.
The Scottish Government committed in 2021 to co-design Just Transition plans across sectors and regions. Yet four years on, no sectoral plans have been adopted and only one place-based plan - for Grangemouth - has emerged, too late to prevent the closure of its refinery.
“The North-east’s transition is being hindered by fragmented efforts, challenging to access funding and a lack of coordination. The Just Transition Fund, while significant, could be much more effective with a coherent plan attached and public buy-in,” said Dr Daria Shapovalova from the University’s Just Transition Lab.
“We don’t need another promise or a drawn-out process. We need a plan - one that is timely, inclusive and rooted in the lived realities of workers, businesses and communities.”
The proposal outlines five key needs:
- A locally-led and timely regional plan - developed within 12 months, with cross-party support and broad stakeholder involvement.
- A diverse delivery body - a multi-stakeholder board to oversee implementation, funding, and alignment with local priorities.
- A monitoring and evaluation framework - indicators to track progress on green jobs, equity, participation, health and community ownership.
- Reform of the Just Transition Fund - more accessible criteria, strategic alignment and support for public and third sector organisations.
- Meaningful public engagement - deliberative democracy and inclusive processes to build consensus and drive change.
“The stakes are high but the solution is within reach,” said Professor Tavis Potts, Personal Chair in Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance. “The North-east has the ingredients for success - skilled workers, engaged communities and a wealth of research. What’s missing is coordination, accountability and a shared vision.
“With the right plan, the North-east can lead the UK’s energy transition and ensure no one is left behind.”