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Climate change is both one of the biggest threats and opportunities facing our tourism and events industry.

As outlined in our Corporate Plan, we’re committed to supporting businesses and events to take meaningful climate action, helping them reduce emissions and build resilience for the future.

With 2030 fast approaching, the next five years represent a pivotal window for launching scalable support mechanisms that will endure beyond this timeframe.

Our Climate Action Accelerator programme will help businesses across Scotland harness the many benefits that can arise from thinking positively and proactively about reducing emissions, working collaboratively with business leads and the communities they represent for long-lasting impact.

Delivered in partnership with Climate Springboard at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI), this innovative programme aims to accelerate climate action within tourism and events businesses. The programme is completely free.

The six-week online programme helps organisations calculate their current carbon emissions, create a practical climate action plan to reach net zero by 2045, and identify immediate steps to reduce emissions and costs whilst building climate resilience.

The accelerator will offer up several cohorts each year for three consecutive years.

Each business will leave with:

• a compliant carbon footprint which can be calculated, using our new tourism and events carbon calculator that launches in 2026
• a climate action plan
• immediate actions to start reducing emissions, cutting costs and improving resilience
• access to a new network of like-minded businesses on the same journey

We have just under five years left to support delivery of the Outlook 2030 strategy, part of Scotland’s wider transition to a net zero economy, and only 15 years from that point until Scotland’s 2045 net zero target.

This programme will provide real data, evidence, and case studies to inform future funding, opportunities, and scalability for climate action in tourism.

With carbon budgets and legislative changes approaching, the accelerator positions VisitScotland to offer scalable support and practical solutions for the industry in the years ahead, helping tourism businesses harness the opportunities of the transition and reduce any risk.

More information will be available soon. Businesses interested in joining the Climate Action Accelerator can complete a short expression of interest. They can also visit our Business Support Hub for updates and resources or to register for our business support newsletter.