Scotland lead world on climate action

The Scottish Government is to call on MSPs to back SNP proposals to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 in the final debate on Scotland's Climate Change bill.

SNP MSP and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson has lodged an amendment to the Climate Change Bill that will set the interim target for Greenhouse Gas emissions at 42%. The amendment reinforces the SNP's commitment to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 42% subject to international agreement in Copenhagen in December.

The SNP Scottish Government's world-leading Scottish climate change legislation will increase the pressure on the UK Government and European nations to agree strict targets in the international battle against climate change.

Speaking ahead of the final debate in Parliament Stewart 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.

“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.

“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. "