Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy

For the UK government position, see Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy
Incumbent Gillian Martin since 11 June 2025
Scottish Government Scottish Cabinet
Style	Cabinet Secretary (within Scottish Parliament) Climate Action and Energy Secretary (informal and only within Scotland) Scottish Climate Action and Energy Secretary (outwith Scotland)
Member of	Scottish Parliament Scottish Cabinet
Reports to	Scottish Parliament First Minister
Seat	Edinburgh
Appointer	First Minister (following approval from Scottish Parliament)
Inaugural holder	Michael Matheson Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport
Formation	20 May 2021
Salary	£126,452 per annum (2024) [1] (including £72,196 MSP salary)
Website	www.gov.scot

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy is a Scottish Government Cabinet position with responsibility for the Net Zero and energy (where not reserved) policy of Scotland. The incumbent is Gillian Martin who has held the brief since June 2025. She previously served as Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy while her predecessor Mairi McAllan was on maternity leave between July 2024 and June 2025. ^[2]

History

The role was first titled Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, with the initial holder being Michael Matheson, who was appointed in June 2018 following a reshuffle of the Second Sturgeon government.

Following the formation of the First Yousaf government in March 2023, the Net Zero and Energy role was divided. Màiri McAllan was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, whilst Neil Gray was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy . ^[3] In June 2023, McAllan's title was retitled as Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition. ^[4]

After the February 2024 reshuffle of Yousaf's government the role was merged with the Economy portfolio, to create the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy. ^[5]

In May 2024, John Swinney renamed the role as Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in his government with Màiri McAllan appointed to the role. Between July 2024 and June 2025 Gillian Martin served as Acting Cabinet Secretary while McAllan was on maternity leave.

In June 2025, the role was renamed again to Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy and Martin was appointed to the role. ^[6]

Responsibilities

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy is responsible for ^[7] :

• cross government co-ordination of Net Zero policy
• climate crisis and environmental protection
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
• oil and gas
• environmental quality
• sustainable development
• physical and marine environment
• flood prevention and coastal erosion
• drinking water quality and regulator, Scottish Water, private water, hydronation
• marine planning
• environmental and climate justice
• Emissions Trading Schemes
• international climate change
• Heat and Energy Efficiency Scotland Agency
• decarbonisation of buildings
• green skills
• Zero Waste Scotland
• Future Generations Commissioner
• deposit return and waste issues
• Green Industrial Strategy (jointly with DFM)
• nature recovery targets and NatureScot
• circular economy
• biodiversity (including endangered species)
• energy system; energy policy and strategy; energy consents
• hydrogen
• carbon capture utilisation and storage
• industrial decarbonisation
• offshore wind, wave and tidal
• Just Transition Fund; Just Transition planning, delivery, and monitoring including Just Transition Commission
• Green Growth Accelerator

List of Officeholders

As is typical of Scottish government roles, the Climate Action and Energy portfolio has gone through many iterations since its inception. The incumbent minister is Gillian Martin.

Name		Portrait	Entered Office	Left Office	Party	First Minister
Role formed and combined with Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport
	Michael Matheson		20 May 2021	29 March 2023	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon
Role split with and combined with Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition
	Màiri McAllan		29 March 2023	13 June 2023	Scottish National Party	Humza Yousaf
Role retitled with and combined with Transport portfolio Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition
	Màiri McAllan		13 June 2023	8 February 2024	Scottish National Party	Humza Yousaf
Role reshuffled with Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, Role separated from Cabinet Secretary for Transport Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy
	Màiri McAllan		8 February 2024	8 May 2024	Scottish National Party	Humza Yousaf
Economy responsibility reshuffled to Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy
	Màiri McAllan		8 May 2024	11 June 2025	Scottish National Party	John Swinney
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy
	Gillian Martin		11 June 2025	Incumbent	Scottish National Party	John Swinney

References

1. "MSP salaries". parliament.scot. The Scottish Parliament. 13 May 2024.
2. "McAllan to tackling housing emergency in Swinney reshuffle". BBC News. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
3. Mitchell, Jenness (29 March 2023). "Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf appoints his cabinet". Sky News .
4. "Màiri McAllan appointed new Scottish transport secretary". BBC News . 13 June 2023.
5. Benn, Dan (12 February 2024). "Scottish First Minister reshuffles Cabinet". Public Sector Executive.
6. "Changes to the Ministerial team: Letter from First Minister to the Presiding Officer". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
7. "Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 12 June 2025.