The boss of the Climate Change Committee has said "sensible governments move quickly" to support oil and gas workers affected by the energy transition.
Chief executive Emma Pinchbeck made the comments in the Holyrood magazine when asked about the transition, the future of North Sea oil and gas and the Grangemouth refinery.
She said: “There is an energy transition coming and it will come whether or not you’re progressing net zero.
"In the case of refineries, oil demand in China is already being hugely impacted by the rollout of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles now account for one in four UK car sales – these technologies are growing and that will affect demand for [oil] and the supply chain.
“Sensible governments move early to do something for those workers and those industries.
"Industrial strategy isn’t technically in the CCC’s mandate, but we’ve said that alongside a decarbonisation strategy you need a strategy for those industries and those communities that will need additional support.
“The public thinks the transition needs to be fair but they recognise there are communities that will not benefit from this transition. If you’re in Aberdeen, for example, the transition away from oil and gas feels very different than it will UK-wide.”
Pinchbeck also called on the Scottish government to focus "short term action" in the race to net zero.
She said Scotland, along with Westminster, had "not made progress on the short-term stuff" in relation to delivering on climate targets.
In response to a question about progress towards Scotland's targets for 2050, she said: “Our job is to advise them on the target… If you’re making really good progress on decarbonisation, that’s great. I don’t want to speculate on where [Scotland] may or may not get to.
"The much more important thing for the Scottish Government to focus on right now is progress right in front of their faces in the next five to 10 years.
"Long-term goals are important… but Scotland, as with Westminster, has not made progress on the short-term stuff to deliver on any targets.
"I don’t like entertaining hypothetical conversations about 2050 because we’ve got lots of short-term action to do and that’s where the focus should be.”
Read more on the Holyrood magazine website.