Tackling climate change

Scotland will be at the forefront of global action on climate change, Finance Secretary John Swinney said today as he set out the key components of the Scottish Climate Change Bill.

Mr Swinney said that by including international aviation and shipping, emissions from all six greenhouse gases, and annual targets, Scotland will have the most ambitious Bill to tackle climate change anywhere in the world.

Commenting on over 21,000 responses to the Scottish Government's consultation on a draft Climate Change Bill, Mr Swinney said:

"Climate change is one of the most serious threats we face as a global community and we all need to play our part in tackling it. The Scottish Government has always been clear that Scotland will play a leading role in the international fight against climate change.

"I was delighted to hear last week that the UK Government will move to equal the Scottish Government's position of an 80 per cent reduction in emissions. However, the Scottish Bill will go even further.

"This Government has taken the bold decision to include emissions from international aviation and shipping within its targets. Scotland benefits greatly from international trade and travel and we believe it is right to take responsibility for the Scottish share of these emissions.

"Achieving these targets will be challenging. But I'm confident that Government, business and the people of Scotland are ready to rise to the challenge of climate change."

Mr Swinney was accompanied by Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson on a joint visit to an innovative Easterhouse community project which uses wind turbines to reduce energy bills and electricity consumption.

Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said:

"Climate change is having a major impact on the world we live in and we must all be prepared to play our part.

"As a Government we've put renewable energy at the heart of our vision of tackling climate change and we want to harness our massive clean energy potential and make Scotland the green energy capital of Europe.

"We have already announced a total private investment of 1 billion pounds in renewable energy projects in Scotland, including the huge Clyde windfarm, and we have trebled the budgets for grants for small scale renewables.

"We are investing in public transport infrastructure that tackles congestion and promoting other forms of sustainable travel such as cycling and walking to enable everyone to play their part.

"Scotland's Climate Change Bill will put this country at the forefront of global action."

Welcoming the Scottish Government's announcement Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said:

"Of course we will have to look at the full detail in the draft Bill but what the Scottish Government are promising amounts to the best climate change legislation in the world. With our great ingenuity and massive renewable energy resources, Scotland is well placed to lead on delivering these kinds of tough climate targets. As we run up to the crucial Copenhagen climate conference at the end of 2009 Scotland will be setting the benchmark for all other industrialised countries to live up to.

"This is a huge success for our campaigners, who sent 20,000 messages of support to the Scottish Government from all over Scotland and from countries around the world. Including international aviation and shipping also helps those working at Westminster to get these growing emissions sources included in a vital vote tomorrow on the UK Climate Change Bill.

Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said:

"The global community will only succeed in preventing dangerous climate change if richer nations demonstrate ambitious steps to cut emissions swiftly. Friends of the Earth Scotland welcomes today's announcement, which offers the prospect that Scotland could take such a role, with a Bill that sets comprehensive targets and provides strong drivers to ensure they are met. We look forward to the Bill itself, and the strategy to deliver it."

Scotland's Climate Change Bill will be brought before Parliament later this year.

Over 21,000 responses were received to the Scottish Government's consultation on a draft climate change bill.

The Bill will establish a legal framework for emissions reductions in the run up to 2050.