Scotland commits to 42% greenhouse gas cut by 2020
Wednesday 24 June 2009
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| Scotland is aiming to cut its carbon emissions by 42% by 2020 |
Scotland has committed itself to the most ambitious emissions cuts target in the world, as the Holyrood parliament today voted in favour of setting a "42% by 2020" target to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The 42% target, which aims to cut emissions comparative to 1990 levels, has been agreed in the Scottish Climate Change Bill, and is significantly higher than the UK's current target of 34%, set last year.
The target effectively pre-empts a worldwide agreement on global carbon emissions cuts, due to be discussed at the Copenhagen summit later this year.
It is believed that the target was upped from 34% at the last minute by First Minister Alex Salmond after environmental campaigners, including WWF Scotland, criticised the government's Climate Delivery Plan for being "weak".
However the Scottish government cited "robust evidence", rather than pressure groups, as the reason for the change of heart.
In a statement, the devolved administration said: "A robust evidence base - derived from expert, independent advice - is available to support both the 34% and 42% targets, with a clear trigger - the EU moving to a 30% target - identified for moving to the 42% target."
Amendment
After yesterday's negotiations in Holyrood, Scottish climate change minister Stewart Stevenson lodged an amendment to the Bill that changed the interim target for greenhouse gas emissions to 42%.
The amendment, which was ratified in Parliament today, reinforces the Bill's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42%, subject to international agreement that is already part of the Bill.
Mr Stevenson said: "The Scottish Government has already committed to meeting the target of 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 based on the EU responding to an international agreement being reached in Copenhagen in December. This amendment reinforces our commitment to world-leading Scottish climate change legislation based on expert advice."
At least one nation is prepared to aim for climate legislation that follows the science
He added: "Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing governments across the world and will have far reaching consequences for us all. Targets must be based on expert advice, the Scottish government has sought to follow that advice as the Bill has progressed, and as has been recognised, our proposals are more ambitious than the UK Bill."
In its December report, Building a Low Carbon Economy - the UK's Contribution to Tackling Climate Change, the UK Committee on Climate Change advised that the appropriate targets for reducing greenhouse emissions for the UK should be a 34% reduction by 2020 relative to 1990 levels, and 42% once a global deal to reduce emissions is achieved.
The Committee also identified the potential Scotland holds to contribute to these UK targets.
Mr Stevenson added: "The Scottish Government's ambitious figures follow the advice of the UK's leading experts, and have been set out in greater detail in the Scottish Government's Climate Change Delivery Plan. We believe that this debate should be as fully informed as possible, which is why we set out our detailed targets in that document last week."
The WWF welcomed the move in glowing terms, and congratulated Scottish administrators for "setting an example" for other developed countries.
"At least one nation is prepared to aim for climate legislation that follows the science," said Kim Carstensen, the leader of WWF's global climate initiative."Scotland made the first step to show others that it can be done. We now need others to follow."
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