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Tackling climate change
17/10/2008
The forthcoming Climate Change Bill will see Scotland lead the way in its response to one of the biggest threats facing the world today.
Finance Secretary John Swinney today signalled his intent that Scotland will have a Climate Change Bill able to lead international action.
Mr Swinney said:
"The Scottish Government has always made clear that our ambition is to lead the world on our vision of tackling climate change.
"We face immediate economic challenges but we face a massive generational challenge of reducing our impact on the environment. We accept the responsibility to do that and we will put in place the legal framework to live up to that responsibility.
"I was delighted yesterday to hear the UK government move to equal the Scottish Government's position of an 80 per cent reduction in emissions.
"But that is not nearly enough.
"So when we set out our Climate Change Bill later this year we will demonstrate that we have listened to the mood of our country, listened to the thousands of people who have taken part in our consultation on the Climate Change Bill.
"We will demonstrate on the vital issues of emission reduction targets, on the inclusion of international air travel and shipping and on the inclusion of all 6 greenhouse gases that Scotland will have a Climate Change Bill able to lead international action. Responsible leadership on Climate Change from this small country of Scotland."
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 Scottish Government's official response to the consultation will be announced shortly.
The Bill will establish a legal framework for emissions reductions in the run up to 2050.