Scotland must match 2045 Net Zero target with action

The Committee on Climate Change has said that Scotland must match the ambition of its world-leading Net Zero 2045 target with decisive action to strengthen climate change policy in all parts of the economy.

The Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC) 2019 Progress Report to the Scottish Parliament shows that greenhouse gas emissions reduced by three per cent in 2017, compared to a 10 per cent fall in 2016.

Next year, Glasgow will host the most important global climate summit since COP21 in Paris in 2015, with the talks offering a major opportunity to increase global ambition and effort to cut emissions. The UK’s credibility as COP26 President – and Scotland’s, as hosts – now rests on real action at home, says the CCC.

Scotland’s Programme for Government 2019-20, alongside other recent policies, shows that the Scottish Government is taking its more ambitious Net Zero emissions targets seriously. However, the CCC warns that a step change in ambition is needed, requiring a much steeper reduction in emissions than was required to meet the previous, less stringent target.

Furthermore, the report claims that the Scottish Parliament’s 2030 target to reduce emissions by 75 per cent will be extremely challenging to meet and must be backed up by steps to drive meaningful emissions reductions, immediately. Similarly, Scotland’s ability to deliver its net-zero target is contingent on action taken in the UK, and vice versa.

Lord Deben, chairman of the CCC, 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 per cent reduction in emissions compared to 1990 – is extremely stretching and demands new policies that begin to work immediately. 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.

“Scotland has outperformed the rest of the UK in cleaning up its economy, resting on the rapid closure of coal. As this chapter closes, the Scottish story must change. But so far, we haven’t seen the same progress in other sectors. With the right policies and the committed support of Westminster, Scotland can lead the way in ending the UK’s contribution to global warming for good.”