Rising costs, weak wage growth, stretched public services, and visible climate change impacts. In this challenging context, what should the priorities for the new Parliament be? This is the question we have addressed in our latest blog. Read it here: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/520-wh...

What should be the priorities for the new Parliament?

Scotland must move from long-term ambition to credible implementation.

futureeconomy.scot

As the new Scottish Parliament prepares to break for summer recess this weekend, my latest blog highlights what its key priorities should be during this parliamentary term. @futureeconscot.bsky.social looks forward to working with any MSPs who want to turn that vision into reality.

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · last mo.

For Scotland's new Parliament to succeed, it must move from long-term ambition to credible implementation. What should its priorities be? Read our new blog by @hannawheatley.bsky.social: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/520-wh...

NEW: May’s election reaffirmed Scotland's commitment to delivering a just transition. What must the new Parliament do to deliver this in practice? Our new briefing identifies the key policy priorities for the new parliamentary term 🧵

Disappointing emissions data out today for Scotland. Even Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, acknowledged that a 1% reduction is not what it should be. Thread from us below on key priorities for the new Parliament ⬇️

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · 2mo ago

📉 Scotland's latest greenhouse gas statistics are out today. Emissions fell by just 1% in 2024 - one of the smallest annual reductions on record. Scotland is still reducing emissions, but progress has slowed sharply just as the hardest part of the net zero transition begins.

Scotland is about to go to the polls to decide who will lead the next government in Holyrood. This week we explore the economic backdrop to the Scottish election and examine the policy platforms of the major parties contesting it: neweconomybrief.net/the-digest/s...

Today, with just over a week before the Scottish election, we set out our @futureeconscot.bsky.social analysis of party manifestos. We focus on 4 areas key to unlocking a just transition: climate & nature, poverty & inequality, funding the transition, and labour market & the economy.

£17,000 - roughly how much more the average full-time worker in Scotland would be earning today if pre-2008 wage trends had continued. Instead, weak pay growth has coincided with steep rises in essential costs. Read our latest Election Spotlight for more: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/488-el...

Excellent thread from @lmacfarlane.bsky.social unpacking our latest analysis on Scotland's cost of living crisis - featured in the Daily Record today with a pretty intense picture ⬇️ www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic...

Scotland's food costs soar as sugar and beef prices rise twice as fast as wages

EXCLUSIVE: Some everyday food items have risen in price nearly four times as fast as wages since the last Holyrood election in 2021.

dailyrecord.co.uk

Laurie Macfarlane @lmacfarlane.bsky.social · 4mo ago

NEW: What’s driving Scotland’s cost-of-living crisis? Households have been squeezed by a pincer movement of weak wage growth + rising prices. Our new @futureeconscot.bsky.social deep dive on the cost of living 🧵 www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/488-el...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🌱 It's time to accept reality - private finance isn't going to fix Scotland's nature crisis. It's time for a reset in Scotland’s approach to nature restoration. New blog by @hannawheatley.bsky.social www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/460-ti...

Surely this week's news about the breakdown of Scottish Government's nature finance pilot means its time for a reset in Scotland's approach to restoration? My latest blog for @futureeconscot.bsky.social ⬇️ www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/460-ti...

Time for a Reset in Scotland’s Approach to Nature Restoration

It's time to accept reality: private finance isn't going to fund the investment Scotland needs.

futureeconomy.scot

It's hard to square the economics of private finance + nature restoration, which don't stack up, with the hype from the sector and Scottish Govt (who really want this to work). That's why this guest blog from Tom, who has been on the other side of these attempted deals, provides crucial insight ⬇️

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · 4mo ago

NEW: Private finance won’t fix Scotland’s nature crisis - only public investment can. As featured exclusively in today's @theguardian.com, private investment isn’t going to deliver the nature restoration Scotland needs. Read our new guest blog by Tom Gegg: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/459-pr...

EXCLUSIVE in @theguardian.com: a £100m nature finance deal collapsed - & MSPs weren’t told. Featuring our work on nature restoration and a new guest blog, it’s clear: private investment isn’t going to deliver the nature restoration Scotland needs. Read coverage: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

📣 Kicking off our pre-election spotlight series with a look back over the last Parliament's track record on net zero targets, and what the new Climate Change Plan means for the next Scottish Parliament ⬇️

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · 4mo ago

💡 Election spotlight: Scotland's Net Zero Challenge Our new blog examines the gap between climate ambition and delivery – and the challenge facing the next Parliament to close it 🧵

We welcome the @scottishgreens.org pledge to replace Scotland’s Air Departure Tax with a Frequent Flyer Levy, as our recent paper set out. Here’s why it makes sense 🧵⬇️

Funding Scotland’s Future: Tax Reform for a Just Transition

Our plan for using devolved fiscal powers to create a fairer, greener Scotland.

futureeconomy.scot

📣 TOMORROW: Sharing our wealth to fund Scotland’s future 💰 What does the Scottish public think about wealth inequality & wealth taxation? 🌱 How could tax reforms support a just transition? Join us & @weallscotland.bsky.social to find out! 🎟️ Tickets: www.tickettailor.com/events/wellb...

Select tickets – Sharing our wealth to fund Scotland’s future: what are the options and will the public support them? – Zoom

Sharing our wealth to fund Scotland’s future: what are the options and will the public support them? – Zoom, Tue 24 Mar 2026 - Join the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland and Future Economy Scotland ...

tickettailor.com

Interested in how we can most effectively fund Scotland’s future? Come to our free event in the Scottish Parliament next week. Find out more and register to attend below ⬇️

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · 6mo ago

EVENT: Funding Scotland's Future – Tax Reform for a Just Transition. Join us for a timely discussion in the Scottish Parliament with a fantastic panel of speakers. 🗓️ 5 March, 17:30, Committee Room 3. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/funding-sc...

NEW: Scotland can raise £2.3bn a year to protect its social contract and reach net zero, according to our new report released today. Watch👇 Read on for more 🧵

EVENT: Funding Scotland's Future – Tax Reform for a Just Transition. Join us for a timely discussion in the Scottish Parliament with a fantastic panel of speakers. 🗓️ 5 March, 17:30, Committee Room 3. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/funding-sc...

NEW: Scotland’s political leaders are under new pressure to replace the unfair council tax system. New polling from Tax Justice Scotland shows five times as many Scots back reform in the next Parliament as oppose it. 🧵

NEW: Scotland’s Budget has delayed tough choices — not avoided them. With an election in May, caution was to be expected. But while some welcome measures were announced, the long-term challenges haven’t gone away. 🧵

Scotland’s Budget: Tough Choices Delayed, Not Avoided

Our analysis of Scotland's Budget for 2026/27.

futureeconomy.scot

A few days ago, our senior economist, @hannawheatley.bsky.social, gave evidence to the @scotparl.bsky.social Rural Affairs and Islands Committee on the Climate Change Plan's proposals on peatland restoration. 🎥 In this clip, Hanna argues that the government doesn’t have a workable funding model.

"Rather than thinking how do we bring private finance in? We're thinking how do we fund peatland restoration?" @hannawheatley.bsky.social gives evidence to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee in @scotparl.bsky.social on the Climate Change Plan's proposals on peatland restoration. 🎥 Watch 👇

📣 What next for community wealth building in Scotland? Our new report asks what it’ll take to turn ambition into action. By our Co-Director @miriambrett.bsky.social, and @neilmcinroy.bsky.social, Global Lead for Community Wealth Building at @democracycollab.bsky.social. 1/13 🧵👇

After weeks of speculation, Rachel Reeves finally delivered her Budget. But how will it impact Scotland? Highlights in 🧵 Read our full analysis 👉 www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/358-ho...

Can private finance fix the nature crisis? In this clip from yesterday’s webinar, Laurie Macfarlane breaks down the 3 reasons why market-led solutions won’t save Scotland’s woodlands and peatlands. Watch full recording to learn about what might: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/355-wa...

While the autumn budget contained some welcome measures, it falls short of what the UK and Scotland need. Read our full response: www.futureeconomy.scot/press/221-re...

Our webinar is TOMORROW & there are only a few tickets remaining! Join our Co-Director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social and Senior Economist @hannawheatley.bsky.social for a discussion on whether private finance can fix the nature crisis. 🗓️25 Nov 12:30-1:30pm 👇Book now: www.eventbrite.com/e/can-privat...

Can private finance fix the nature crisis?

Join Future Economy Scotland for a webinar exploring how to scale up nature restoration in line with a just transition.

eventbrite.com

We welcome the decision to take public equity stakes in the Pentland offshore wind farm. Public ownership can help deliver better outcomes for: ✊ Workers 💷The taxpayer 🏭 Supply chains

UK and Scottish Governments announce major investment in offshore wind farm

National Wealth Fund, Great British Energy and the Scottish National Investment Bank will each put up to £50m towards th...

holyrood.com

Shell has exited its ScotWind projects, handing its lease back to Crown Estate Scotland and leaving questions as to what happens next. It's a stark reminder of the risks in relying on distant investors and fossil fuel giants to deliver Scotland’s renewable energy future. www.ft.com/content/b9d0...

Shell abandons floating North Sea wind farm projects

UK energy group to focus on potentially more lucrative activities such as power trading

ft.com

Scotland’s offshore wind should power a fairer future - not just profits for distant shareholders. The wind belongs to all of us. We should all have a stake in our energy future. 🧵