The Scottish Government is working in partnership with the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland on the UK Climate Change Act which received Royal Assent on November 26, 2008.
The Act sets a statutory target to reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, and requires that limits be set on the total amount of emissions in successive five year periods (carbon budgets). Following the Scottish Parliament's agreement in December 2007 to a Legislative Consent Motion, most of the provisions of the UK Act extend to Scotland.
Royal Assent for the Act allowed for the formal establishment of the Committee on Climate Change, which had previously been operating in 'shadow' form. On December 1, 2008 the Committee released its first report, `Building a low-carbon economy - the UK's contribution to tackling climate change', recommending carbon budgets for each of the five-year periods 2008-12, 2013-17 and 2018-22.
The Scottish Government and other Devolved Administrations have until the end of February 2009 to provide their views to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change before he announces a decision on the carbon budget levels alongside the Budget in March.
Scotland's emissions, and the potential to reduce emissions in Scotland, are different from the rest of the UK. Scotland has massive potential in renewable energy, particularly in marine and wind energy. The Scottish Bill will be the driver for devolved climate change policies
Further information on the UK Climate Change Act is available from the Department of Energy and Climate Change