Scottish Government lays regulations in aim to reduce carbon emissions

The Scottish Government's aim to reduce carbon emissions by 42 per cent by 2020 was outlined as they laid regulations which demonstrated ongoing work in meeting climate change challenges and opportunities.

Under the terms of the Climate Change Act, Ministers were allowed to vary by order the interim target of a 42 per cent reduction in emissions based on expert advice from the Committee on Climate Change.

The Committee has confirmed that the 42 per cent target represents an appropriate contribution to global emissions reductions in 2020 and would put Scotland on the path to meeting the target of an 80 per cent reduction by 2050. On that basis, Scottish Ministers will retain its target.

Progress on the target will be mapped by a series of annual targets, with the first batch, covering the period 2010-2022, having to be set by June 1 this year. Those targets will require that emissions fall by 0.5 per cent year-on-year.

As part of the process, under the provisions of the Climate Change Act, four draft Scottish Statutory Instruments were laid in Parliament for approval.

They cover setting annual targets for 2010-22, setting a limit on the use of carbon credits for 2010-12, allocating a share of international aviation and shipping emissions to Scotland and carbon accounting regulations, which will set out the circumstances in which carbon credits can be used.

Stewart Stevenson, Minister for Climate Change, said: "The Scottish Government, its agencies and its non-government partners will need to work together to explain what's needed and to incentivise action. Alongside that, action is needed to reduce the emissions from transport, housing, business, land management and other sources."

"Scotland's schools, colleges and universities must also work alongside the business sector to increase public awareness and to research and develop innovative solutions and technologies."

Further information:
The Scottish Government