Tuesday 17 December 2019

Scotland warned to take urgent action to hit Net Zero target

The Committee on Climate Change’s progress report says greenhouse gas emissions only reduced by 3% in 2017, compared with a 10% fall in 2016.

The CCC says the fall was led by the power sector but warns other sectors only showed incremental improvement at best and, unless emissions reductions are delivered economy-wide, Scotland is at risk of missing its new interim target of a 56% reduction in emissions by 2020.

According to the CCC a step change in ambition is needed, requiring a much steeper reduction in emissions than was required to meet the previous, less stringent target.

Lord Deben, Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change said: “Scotland has set an ambitious world-leading Net Zero target of 2045. Now Scotland needs to walk the talk. The new legally-binding target for 2030 – a 75% reduction in emissions compared to 1990 – is extremely stretching and demands new policies that begin to work immediately.”

Lord Deben added: “The spotlight is now on Scotland’s plan to deliver meaningful reductions across all sectors of the economy, including from buildings, road transport, agriculture and land use. Their contribution to reducing emissions is vital to Scotland’s success.”