Call for evidence

About the project

The Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy (CITP) at the University of Sussex, is carrying out research for the Scottish Government and ClimateXChange on export opportunities for Scottish environmental goods and services. The research will identify where Scotland may have the potential to grow its exports, the barriers that hold exporters back, and practical actions government could take in response. The findings will inform Scotland's contribution to UK bilateral and multilateral trade negotiations and the Scotland: A Trading Nation export growth plan.

Who we want to hear from

We welcome submissions from relevant businesses, trade associations, industry and professional bodies, standards and regulatory organisations, those working on trade and investment policy, and others with experience of exporting, or trying to export, environmental goods and services from Scotland.

"Environmental goods and services" is interpreted broadly, based on the OECD’s CLEG list. It includes, for example, waste collection, storage, and treatment equipment, environmental monitoring, analysis, and assessment equipment, natural resource protection and management, air pollution control and renewable energy technologies.

Questions

Please answer whichever questions are relevant to you. You do not need to answer them all.

1. What is your organisation and its role in the environmental goods and services sector

2. If you do not export, please let us know why.

3. If you are a current exporter:

a. What goods or services do you currently export?

b. To what markets do you export?

c. Do you have concrete plans to increase the range of either goods or services you export?

d. Do you have concrete plans to increase the number of markets you export to, and if so, which markets?

4. What are the main barriers you currently face when exporting? Please consider:

• tariffs and customs procedures
• technical regulations, product standards and certification
• conformity assessment and recognition of qualifications or accreditation
• restrictions on providing services, including licensing, local-presence and procurement rules
• access to finance, logistics, skills or market information
• knowledge of overseas markets
• other?

5. What support, from the Scottish Government, UK Government or others, have you used, and how useful was it?

6. What single change would do most to help:

a. Enable you to export more

b. Enable Scottish environmental exporters broadly?

How to respond

Please send your response to c.humma@sussex.ac.uk by 19th November 2026. Responses can be written using the downloadable form below, or you can arrange a short call with the research team if preferred. Please do not feel you need to write a formal submission, and please answer those questions that are most relevant to you. Bullet points are fine.

Download the response form