Climate Change bill will lead the way

The Scottish Government will next week be urged by SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville to seek independent advice on its interim climate change targets and the target for cumulative emissions as the Parliament votes on world leading Climate Change legislation.

Ms Somerville also criticised Iain Gray’s actions at First Minister’s Questions which directly contradict the approach of Labour members in Committee where Des McNulty called for the targets to be based on scientific advice not “political point scoring”.

SNP MSP Shirley–Anne Somerville has today lodged amendments which as well as supporting the Scottish Government in including an interim target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020 in the bill, with the provision to rise to 42% if the EU agrees to higher targets, will require the Government to seek independent advice from the UK Committee on Climate Change and if a higher target is recommended, either adopt the target in legislation or explain to Parliament its decision.

Lodging the amendments earlier today Ms Somerville said;

“Climate Change must not be the subject of a political bidding war – the targets we set must be both realistic and credible, as well as ambitious.

“That’s why any decision to move to higher targets must be based on the independent advice of the Committee on Climate Change not on the whims of politicians.

“It is disappointing that after acknowledging in Committee that “political point scoring” is not the way to address Climate Change Labour members have now abandoned that principal for political games

“The amendments I am introducing will take us back to scientific principals ensuring that the option of raising these targets is considered and considered properly – not in a political bidding war – but by people with real expertise who can consider both what is needed and what can be achieved.

“That is what everyone with an interest in seeing real action to combat climate change should be focussed on.

“The Scottish Government’s climate change legislation is the most ambitious in the world with a 34% target for 2020 and with the ability, in legislation, to raise the target to 42% if the EU agrees to set higher targets on measures to tackle Climate Change.

“Scotland will be the only country in the world to monitor and report on all the carbon we use, not just what we produce.  We will be the only country to have a 42% target in legislation and we will be the first country to establish serious legal efforts to tackle climate change.

“Similarly I am lodging an amendment on cumulative emissions, to again ensure we are heeding the advice of experts to ensure Scotland’s Climate Change bill meets Scotland’s ambitions.

“Scotland’s Climate Change legislation will put Scotland at the forefront of global efforts to secure our future, with our world leading legislation and I hope members will support the experts and avoid political point scoring with our future.”