How we're taking climate action

At HES we are committed to climate action, and we have a dedicated climate change team that are focused on key areas. This includes working on climate impacts and adaptation, and carbon management.

We champion the circular economy, responsible tourism and sustainable travel. We're also helping communities across Scotland, including our own community of colleagues, understand and address climate change.

Our work contributes directly to the Scottish National Adaptation Plan. We champion the role that heritage and culture can play in building resilience across Scotland and supporting a fair transition to a low‑carbon, climate‑resilient future.

Our climate action responsibilities go beyond our own operations. We can’t face the climate emergency and its effects on our historic environment alone, so we work collaboratively with partners in Scotland and across the globe.

By law, all public bodies in Scotland must contribute to the ‘net-zero’ emissions target for 2045, deliver adaptation programmes to increase resilience and act in a sustainable way.  

The first priority of Scotland’s strategy for the historic environment, "Delivering the transition to net zero", ensures that, as a lead public body we are leading by example and can have a far-reaching influence in the heritage sector and beyond.

• Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
• Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019
• Our Past, Our Future - Scotland’s strategy for the historic environment

We develop and carry out climate change risk assessment tools help us monitor and adapt to the effects of climate change.

This helps us to look after over 300 historic place across Scotland, many of which are situated in landscapes particularly vulnerable to these changes.

We've also produced expert advice and guidance for the wider sector, helping others identify hazards and implement adaptation measures. 

Our Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) is a tool developed specifically to assess climate change vulnerability at World Heritage Sites. We're using it on Scotland’s World Heritage Sites and, in doing so, we've set a benchmark for other countries to follow.

Heritage is central to the just transition to the low carbon economy. We’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint and helping Scotland reach net zero by 2045.

Achieving net zero means dramatically reducing carbon emissions across all our operations. Across our estate , we’re improving energy efficiency, upgrading heating systems, installing low-impact insulation and exploring how we can use more renewable energy.

Our approach is guided by a simple principle: the greenest building is the one that already exists. We prioritise reuse and repair, extending the life of historic buildings and avoiding the carbon cost of new construction. Our leading research, expert guidance and accredited training help others to do the same. 

By switching to electric vehicles and sourcing low-carbon goods and services, we’re embedding sustainability into every decision. Our staff are trained to measure emissions and consider carbon impacts in daily operations, part of our overall commitment to responsible tourism.

By focusing on carbon mitigation, we’re not just protecting Scotland’s past, we’re actively shaping a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

The circular economy is about moving away from our current system of taking, using and disposing of resources to a circular approach. Instead, things are reused, used for longer or recycled. Little to nothing is disposed of.

For HES, this means redesigning our business models, services and projects in a way that eliminates waste entirely, ends our dependence on new materials, or enables reuse.

Our dedicated Circular Economy Project Officer supports colleagues by expanding knowledge in these areas; advising on projects and identifying opportunities to reduce waste and be more resource efficient.

Our sustainable travel work spans both visitor and staff travel. It seeks to reduce our carbon impact from travel emissions whilst considering the impact travel has on local communities, staff wellbeing, visitor experience and the environment.

We develop and contribute to policies and guidance to make sure sustainable travel is embedded across our organisation and the heritage sector. Our Sustainable Travel Strategy will provide a strategic framework for doing this, testing new approaches and introducing pilot projects.

Sustainable travel to Historic Scotland sites is always encouraged. Our partnership with Good Journey offers visitors a dsicount on their entry to selected sites should they arrive without a car.

Car-free visits with Good Journey