"We need to work together to transform Scotland's economy so that economic growth and emissions reductions happen together. All sectors of the economy must share in the effort. Scotland already has a thriving renewables sector, and we have a tremendous opportunity to be a world leader in green technologies such as marine energy and carbon capture.
"As this delivery plan makes clear, transformational change is necessary. The Scottish Government is focused on making it happen."
John Swinney and Stewart Stevenson, June 2009
Meeting Scotland's statutory climate change targets
Challenges and opportunities
Scotland aims to become a leading nation in developing a sustainable way of life, reducing the impact its people have on the local and global environment. The choices made will be critical to shaping a modern, succesful and sustainable Scotland and to maintaining a quality of life which retains and attracts talented people and investment.
First and foremost, Scotland must play its part in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Government Economic Strategy includes Sustainability Purpose Targets to reduce emissions over the period to 2011, and to reduce emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. The Climate Change (Scotland) Bill sets a mandatory target of at least an 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050 and includes: all internationally recognised greenhouse gases; emissions from international aviation and shipping; an interim target for 2020; and a framework of annual targets to drive early action.
There is a significant challenge in delivering these targets, and doing so while continuing to grow the Scottish economy and protect the environment.
Delivering 80 per cent emissions reductions
The Climate Change Delivery Plan sets out high level measures to meet the statutory target for 2020, and the work to be done over the next decade to prepare for the more radical changes needed if the emissions reduction target for 2050 is to be achieved. The Technical Appendix sets out how the estimates for emissions reductions shown in the Climate Change Delivery Plan were derived.
The Scottish Government already has in place a wide programme of climate change action across many sectors. The Third Annual Report on climate change in Scotland, laid before the Scottish Parliament in June 2009, details these existing activities.