Action Needed On Emissions

The Scottish Government's being warned it must do more to meet legal standards on greenhouse gases.

A UK Climate Change Committee report says more action is needed on low-carbon heating and energy efficiency.

Vehicles and the agriculture industry are polluting too heavily, and public sector bodies are failing to cut emissions.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 compels Holyrood  to reduce pollution by 42% by 2020, and 80% by 2050.

Tom Ballantine, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said:  “This report today from the Government’s own advisors is the fourth time they have advised that the Scottish Government needs to do much more to meet legal requirements on greenhouse gas emissions and deliver the benefits of a low carbon economy.” 

Ballantine continued: “Last year, the UK CCC recommended further policy effort from the Scottish Government on renewable heat and transport.  A Scottish Parliamentary committee of MSPs also recently called for ‘increased effort across all sectors’.  Despite the establishment of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Climate Change, we have yet to see these recommendations put into effect by the Government. 

“With the strongest call yet from their own advisors to do more to reduce emissions, it’s time for the Scottish Government to heed these repeated calls and take urgent action now to deliver on Scotland’s vitally important climate commitments. 
  
“The Scottish Government must now commit to identifying and rolling out additional policy measures to reduce emissions.  The UK CCC report particularly highlights transport and heating buildings as areas that need urgent attention. 

“This is a crucial year for the fight against global warming, as world leaders meet in Paris in December to thrash out a new global agreement on climate change. 

“Scotland is rightly proud of its world-leading legislation on climate change but, as the Committee on Climate Change highlights today, the Scottish Government must deliver what is set out in our Climate Change Act, so that we can retain our credibility in this area and show other countries what the benefits are of a low carbon nation.”