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A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland

In A sustainable future

24 Jul 2025 12:00 – 13:00

Online

Free

Scotland has made great strides in building large amounts of renewable energy generation. But despite this, 90% of households are still using fossil fuels to heat their homes.

There’s plenty of innovation happening in clean heat, but what policy changes do the Scottish and UK Governments need to make to ensure that Scotland meets its climate change targets, tackles fuel poverty and unlocks a clean heat future for the country?

With the 2045 net zero targets inching closer, the Heat in Buildings Bill due to pass through Scottish Parliament next year, a new Climate Change Plan required, and Holyrood elections coming up, there’s never been a more important time to act – and there’s no shortage of opportunities for change.

On Thursday 24 July 12:00-13:00 BST, we’ll be convening experts to deep-dive into Nesta’s new report A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland, exploring how Scotland can unlock policy action and provide clear direction for the clean heat transition.

This online event will draw insights from the report to explore the solutions to several key questions:

How do we make clean heat affordable?
How do we deliver clean heat at scale?
How can we support households to ensure an easier, smoother switch to clean heat?
How do we phase out a reliance on fossil fuel heating?
Lastly, how do we prepare Scotland’s workforce for the clean heat mass market?

By addressing five critical areas, including policy outcomes and proposed actions for both Scottish and UK Governments, this event will provide policymakers in Scotland with a comprehensive and digestible framework that can accelerate the decarbonisation of home heating across Scotland.

Attendees will hear from the researchers behind the report. This includes Robin Parker and Marcus Shepheard, Mission Manager and Policy Manager respectively at Nesta’s sustainable future mission. Joining them will be an expert panel consisting of Gillian Campbell, Director at Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, Dr Matthew Lee, Senior Policy Officer for Energy at Citizens Advice Scotland, and Scott Sanford, Technical Services & Skills Manager at SNIPEF. The event will be chaired by Ashley Mclean, Policy Advisor for Nesta Scotland. More speakers will be announced at a later date. The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A session, where you’ll get to put your questions to our panel.

This event is for Scottish policymakers, clean heat installers, net zero campaigners, and all those interested in a compelling, workable solution to the clean energy transition across Scotland.

Robin Parker

He/him

Robin manages Nesta's work in Scotland on the Sustainable Future Mission, focused on making it easier for households to end their contribution to climate change. He's always keen to talk to potential partners for Nesta, and find opportunities to develop new approaches that help cut emissions from burning gas and oil to heat homes in Scotland. Robin's recent career has focussed on developing evidence and policy solutions on clean energy and climate change. He has worked as a civil servant in the Scottish Government, in the charity sector for WWF Scotland and in the private sector for Ramboll. Outside of work, you'll probably find Robin either on one of his bicycles – maybe the gravel bike, maybe on a tandem. Or he'll be listening to a podcast – politics or comedy, or, ideally, political comedy!

Ashley Mclean

She/her

Ashley works as a policy advisor across the missions and the UK 2040 Options team in Nesta in Scotland, ensuring we engage with the Scottish government to meet our goals. Before Nesta, Ashley worked as a policy officer for the Poverty Alliance, Scotland’s anti-poverty network. She campaigned on issues such as accessible and affordable public transport, building an adequate social security system and tackling fuel poverty. Before this, she worked as a policy officer for the Scottish Green party in the 2021 Scottish elections. Outside of work you can find Ashley reading a good book, heading to the gym or cursing the Scottish weather whilst on a hike.

Marcus Shepheard

He/him

Marcus is the policy manager in Nesta's sustainable future mission. He is developing the breadth of our work on heat decarbonisation into evidence and advice to help inform Government policy. Marcus has a background in climate change governance and analysis. Marcus joined Nesta from the Climate Change Committee, where he was the lead analyst on residential decarbonisation. He has also worked for the Institute for Government and the Royal Society.

Gillian Campbell

She/her

Gillian is Director of the Existing Homes Alliance - a coalition of Scotland’s key housing, environmental, fuel poverty and consumer organisations calling for the right policies to tackle fuel poverty and cut climate change emissions. Gillian has worked in the housing sector for over 25 years, with local authorities, housing associations and, for the past seven years, as an independent consultant.

Part of

Net zero policy

A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland

About Nesta

A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland

A policy plan for clean heat in Scotland - 24 Jul 2025 12:00 – 13:00