What Could a ‘Net Positive’ Future Look Like in Scotland?
- Posted on: 1 October 2025
To celebrate Scotland’s Climate Week, a cross organisational group on Climate & Sustainability and Place & Environment at Public Health Scotland, Scotland’s Public Health agency, considers the impact of climate change on our health, and explores what a ‘net positive’ future could look like in practice through approaches being taken across Scotland that benefit both people and the planet.
Climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss are not isolated challenges. They are interconnected global crises that threaten human health and wellbeing and are already being felt here in Scotland. These planetary pressures intersect with social challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, growing inequalities, and rising mental health concerns. Together, they contribute to a population health picture that is under strain and a health system facing unprecedented pressures.
Responding effectively to these challenges requires us to take collaborative action and move beyond reducing harm, towards approaches that generate net positive outcomes: actions that improve health, reduce inequalities, and deliver wider co-benefits for both people and planet, now and in future.
This blog explores aspects of what a net positive future could mean in practice across key areas that shape population health and provides a few glimpses into a net positive future in Scotland.
Sustainable transport
Transport is both a determinant of health and a driver of environmental harm. A net positive approach means prioritising sustainable modes of travel in line with the Sustainable Travel Hierachy, such as walking, cycling, and public transport. These support health by reducing exposure to air and noise pollution, lowering the risk of road injuries, increasing physical activity, and alleviating financial burdens associated with car dependency.
Embedding a Just Transition approach into transport is also essential. Addressing transport poverty across five dimensions – availability, reliability, affordability, accessibility, and safety – ensures that transport systems enable people to meet daily needs, access services, and participate fully in society.
Nature, and green and blue spaces
Scotland’s natural environment is a vital asset for population health. Access to quality green and blue spaces has been shown to:
- reduce exposure to environmental stressors such as air pollution
- support restoration, including stress recovery and improved attention
- build capacities, such as physical activity and social connection.
Protecting and restoring nature not only improves health and wellbeing, but contributes to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. Current work, such as the Scottish Government’s Environment Strategy consultation, highlights opportunities to embed these benefits into policy, supporting a fairer, more resilient nation.
Housing and the built environment
Housing is a core determinant of health. Energy-efficient, resilient homes can reduce household costs, improve indoor air quality, and support climate adaptation.
The recent Dundashill development in Glasgow provides an example of net positive housing in action. Built to Passive House standards, the development integrates solar panels, air-source heat pumps, and high energy efficiency. This model demonstrates how sustainable housing can reduce carbon emissions while improving living conditions and reducing inequalities.
Scotland’s health system
Health systems must adapt to climate change while reducing their own environmental footprint. This involves:
- placing greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention
- reducing the carbon emissions associated with care delivery
- aligning with Realistic Medicine and Value-Based Care principles. The NHS Climate Emergency and Sustainability Strategy sets the direction for this work, supported by initiatives such as the Green Health Learning Network (launched in 2025). In addition, NHS organisations can act as “anchor institutions,” contributing to community wealth building through partnerships in areas such as food growing and local economic development.
Net positive futures in practice
The Place Standard tool supports engagement with local populations to help improve and shape the places they live. Below are some further examples of what net positive living could look like:
Urban example – Glasgow
During COP26, Glasgow joined the Thriving Cities Initiative, adopting Doughnut Economics as a guiding framework. This approach seeks to meet the needs of all within ecological limits, supporting sustainable and equitable urban development with clear health co-benefits.
Rural example – Aberfeldy
In Highland Perthshire, Aberfeldy has set an ambition to become Scotland’s healthiest town. By reframing health as something that happens across community life – focusing on movement, food, balance, and connection – the initiative mobilises local assets and collective action to strengthen resilience against non-communicable diseases.
These examples highlight how a net positive approach can be adapted to both urban and rural contexts, with benefits for health, equity, and sustainability
Conclusion
The triple planetary crisis poses urgent challenges for Scotland, but it also provides an opportunity to reimagine the systems that shape our health. A net positive approach requires collaboration across sectors, communities, and all levels of government, with population health and wellbeing as the central outcome.
By embedding health into climate action – and climate into health action – we can create places that are not only less harmful, but actively regenerative. In short, Scotland has the opportunity to shape a future that is healthier, fairer, and more sustainable for current and future generations: a future that is truly net positive.
References:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00141-0/fulltext?rss=yes
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00229-4/fulltext
https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/media/7483/healthy-housing-for-scotland.pdf
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(25)00229-4/fulltext