WORLD Environment Day was marked by the SNP’s Joan McAlpine by her calling on the UK Government to reverse their position on cutting support for renewables.

While the SNP in government has met ambitious targets on energy the progress made by Scotland so far is being put at risk by the decision of the UK Government to cut support for renewables projects, the MSP insists.

She also praised the SNP’s new target for producing 100 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2020.

McAlpine said: “World Environment Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the remarkable strides Scotland has made in producing clean, green energy and reducing our emissions – powering through our ambitious targets on energy, achieving 57.7 per cent of electricity from renewables in 2015 and upping that ambition to 100 per cent by 2020.

“But while this progress is very welcome, we simply cannot allow Scotland’s potential to be held back by the actions of an out of touch Tory government with an ideological objection to renewables.

“Scotland has incredible opportunities to be a world leader in a range of renewable technologies which provide clean, sustainable power which we simply must capitalise on.

“It’s vital that the UK Government now take immediate steps to ensure that Scotland’s onshore wind sector gets the support it needs and deserves to allow the industry to continue to invest in jobs, create clean energy and tackle climate change.’’