The Scottish Government has published a new Bill that will reopen Scotland’s climate legislation to remove the target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030, switch to a 5 yearly carbon budget system, and delay the publishing of a new Climate Change Plan.
The intention to do this was announced by the Cabinet Secretary in April, following the government’s advisors stating that the 2030 target was ‘no longer credible’, which was due to their failure to deliver the speed and depth of climate action needed since the target was set.
Responding, Mike Robinson, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS), said:
“In 2019 the Scottish Government rightly declared a climate emergency, ahead of setting appropriately ambitious climate targets, reflecting the scale of the crisis and the role that we needed to play to contribute towards global efforts to limit the damage. However, after years of dither and delay by them and parties across the chamber, it came as no surprise that these were no longer achievable, and now the government finds itself in the unconscionable situation of having to change the law to avoid breaking it.
“However we measure carbon emissions, it is meaningless without action to meet it. This Bill must not distract attention from the long overdue action needed to make our homes warmer, air cleaner, and land and seas properly protected.
“Although the Carbon Budgets Bill should never have been needed, it’s welcome that it does not reopen other parts of climate legislation. We urge the government to now get on with building cross party consensus for action and commit to fairly raising new funds from big polluters and the worst offenders to deliver the transformational changes needed to reduce emissions and improve the lives of people in Scotland and around the world. Addressing this emergency is one of the First Minister’s four key priorities, which means funding must be fairly raised and committed, and action must be accelerated.
“The policy package announced with the news of the legislation changes in April gave no comfort about the government’s commitment to accelerating climate action, and yesterday’s Programme for Government needed to go much further to rebuild severely damaged trust and show that Scotland is still committed to addressing the most serious issue we face.
“With other countries, including the UK, likely to bring forward improved commitments to reduce emissions at this year’s COP conference in Azerbaijan, Scotland will go from climate leader to laggard without accelerated action.”
