Greater clarity needed on how Scotland will meet climate targets, MSPs warn

Greater clarity is needed on how the Scottish Government will meet its new climate targets, MSPs have warned.

In a new report, the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee has urged ministers to release clear plans covering how each sector will contribute to reducing emissions to net zero by 2045.

The Scottish Government recently agreed to back Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommendations to target net-zero emissions by 2045 at the latest, with Scotland becoming carbon neutral by 2040.

The climate change bill previously targetted a 90 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050, but the CCC advice called on it to go further, with the Scottish Government confirming amendments would be lodged to the bill to include interim targets for a 70 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 and a 90 per cent reduction by 2040, relative to 1990 levels.

The report, which was published ahead of the Committee’s consideration of Stage 2 of the Bill, also calls for a focus on innovation and behavioural change, with the committee highlighting the need for well-defined plans to make the changes needed.

Convener Gillian Martin said: “The climate emergency is real and the stark fact is that we have to take urgent action in the short term in order to address global warming.

“Our committee welcomes the Scottish Government’s swift response to the CCC’s report and the commitment that Scotland will play its part in tackling it. While the targets are challenging we need to focus on the opportunities and benefits of early action and we need to support those most impacted in making the transition.

“This is why we have called for a higher level of ambition across all sectors and for clearer plans to be put in place for every sector so we ensure that our generation can address the catastrophic harm being done to our natural environment.”

Scottish emissions were 49 per cent below 1990 levels in 2016.