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Climate Change Bill
21/06/2007
The Scottish Government is to begin consulting on a Climate Change Bill with a target of cutting emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said Scotland could have the most demanding statutory targets in the world and put Scotland at the front of the global fight against climate change.
Mr Swinney said:
"Climate change threatens our people, our economy, our societies, and our very existence. It can only be tackled if we all work together - in this Parliament, in Scotland, in the UK, and across the world.
"We will play our part. We will introduce a Scottish Climate Change Bill and consult on a mandatory long-term target to reduce our emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.
"This target is equivalent of emissions reductions of three per cent each year. To ensure sustained progress towards this goal, we will consult on proposals for targets based on average annual reductions over a 5 year period.
"The Bill will also propose a requirement that Ministers are held to account in the event of failure to meet emissions reductions. There will be a mandatory process of Parliamentary accountability for Ministers, with a requirement on Ministers to identify the action that needs be taken.
"As well as progressing Scottish solutions, we will continue to work with UK Ministers and devolved administrations to contribute to the UK emission reduction target. We have already indicated to the UK government that we want to explore how Scotland should engage with a UK Climate Change Bill and how to access the expertise and knowledge for decision making in Scotland.
"Climate change will be at the heart of our economic decision making. The Bill will provide a framework for our industries to invest with certainty in world-beating, low carbon technologies. I want Scotland to become the green energy capital of Europe.
"We want to make progress as quickly as possible, but the Bill is by no means fixed. This is a long term framework for Scottish government, business and interested organisations and we will involve them all in shaping and developing the Bill. We welcome good ideas, wherever they come from. We are therefore allowing for a year's formal and informal discussion and engagement, consultation and scrutiny before taking forward this landmark legislation."