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The Scottish Government’s commitments to tackling climate change are set out within the Climate Change (Scotland) Act (2009). The Act requires the reduction of emission of all greenhouse gases by 80% in 2050, relative to 1990 levels. It goes further than the UK Climate Change Act as it commits to a 42% cut in emissions by 2020, regardless of whether the EU moves from its current target of a 20% reduction in emissions across the EU in 2020 to a 30% target. The Scottish Act also includes international aviation and shipping in the emissions target for 2020, whereas these emissions are currently excluded from UK carbon budgets.
The Scottish Act also differs from the UK provisions in that it requires annual targets on emission reductions are set for 2010 onwards. Under the Act, emissions must fall year on year from 2010, and by at least 3% per year after 2019. The Act also sets a limit on the use of offset credits to meet the targets, stating that a minimum of 80% of the emission reduction effort must be made through domestic effort.
The Act requires Scottish Ministers to seek advice on various aspects of Scotland’s climate change programme, including advice on the level of emission reduction targets, the appropriate use of credits in meeting targets, methods for accounting for international aviation and shipping within the target framework, and reports on progress towards meeting emission targets. Currently the Committee is the advisory body for Scottish Ministers on these issues.
Reports and advisory letters
Since Scotland’s Climate Change Act was passed in August 2009, Scottish Ministers have requested advice from the Committee on various aspects of Scotland’s climate change programme. The reports and advisory letters in response from the Committee include:
February 2010 - ‘Scotland’s Path to a Low-carbon economy’ - This report set out the Committee’s views on options for the 2020 interim target, the level of annual emission targets for 2010-2022, the methodology to account for international aviation and shipping emissions in the Scottish target framework, and on the use of offset credits to meet annual targets in 2010-2012. A package of secondary legislation reflecting these provisions of the Act and the Committee’s advice was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 21st April 2010. Amongst other things this package reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases in Scotland by 42% by 2020 and proposed annual targets for 2010-22. The Scottish Parliament voted against the first statutory instrument setting annual targets, following which the Scottish Government convened a short-life cross-party working group to consider the issue further and asked the Committee to provide further advice on the potential impact of the recession on Scottish emissions. A new statutory instrument was introduced on 22 September 2010, with Parliament passing the proposed targets.
January 2011 -‘Advice on a cumulative emissions budget for Scotland for 2010 – 2050’-The Committee was asked to set out views on a ‘fair and safe’ cumulative emissions budget for Scotland. In the letter the Committee defined this as an appropriate contribution to required global emission reductions consistent with limiting risks of dangerous climate change. A minimum Scottish contribution to the required global pathway is broadly characterised by equal annual percentage emissions reductions between 2020 and 2050. Combining this with emissions reductions required from now to 2020 gives a cumulative emissions budget of 1,250 MtCO2e between 2010 and 2050.
July 2011: ‘Advice to the Scottish Government on emission targets for 2023-2027 and credit use in 2013-2017’ - In this letter the Committee recommended a series of annual targets that reflect a halving of Scottish emissions by 2025 and a 60% reduction by 2030, relative to 1990. The Committee also recommended that credit use should remain an option at levels allowed under the Scottish Climate Change Act. This advice was followed by a further letter providing additional information relating to the impacts of emission targets and details of the target setting methodology.
These targets were accepted by the Scottish Government and passed by the Scottish Parliament in October 2011.
January 31st: 'Reducing emissions in Scotland - 1st Progress Report' - This is the Committee's first assessment of Scotland’s progress towards reducing emissions. The report shows that emissions fell in 2009 mainly due to the impact of the recession but are likely to have risen in 2010 as economic activity picked back up, and energy demand for heating is likely to have increased during the particularly cold temperatures experienced at the start and end of 2010. While progress has been made in a number of key areas, including renewables investment and energy efficiency improvements, new policies will be needed to sustain the progress achieved and to meet future targets.
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