SCOTTISH ministers toughened up their climate change targets yesterday, committing the Government to cutting emissions by 75% by 2030.
The last minute tweak brought the legislation into line with Labour and LibDem demands. The Tories also backed the Bill when it came to the vote.
However, the Scottish Greens, who had called for a target of 80%, abstained, saying the Government still wasn’t being ambitious enough.
Their climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell said the legislation represented some progress, but “at a snail’s pace”.
He added: “The lack of ambition on the ten-year timescale demanded by climate science, for example, ignores the demands of the tens of thousands who took to the streets last week.
“I secured some commitments, on warm homes and a citizens assembly, as well as some important new requirements on reporting and recording emissions, but let’s not pretend this Bill is anywhere near meaningful action to address the climate emergency. The other parties cannot hide behind targets. Targets are meaningless without action to meet them.”
In the debate, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham, hit out at the Greens: “For goodness sake, this is the, strongest toughest legislation of anywhere in the world.”
She added: “I find it extraordinary that the Green party members appear to be contemplating not supporting this Bill which adopts the most ambitious statutory targets of anywhere in the world and includes many of their own proposals.”
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser tweeted: “Scottish ‘Greens’ refuse to support world-leading Climate Change legislation.
“But, hey, there’s a referendum on independence to be fought for ...”
The legislation means that Scotland has a target to become a net-zero society by 2045.
It also includes a pledge to hold a “citizens’ assembly” on how to tackle climate change.
Cunningham told MSPs: “No one should be in any doubt of the Scottish Government’s commitment to use every policy lever at our disposal to rise to this challenge.
“Our end target is firmly based on what we are told is the limit of what can currently be achieved.
“It is the maximum possible ambition based upon the best available science and requires the UK to take action to meet their targets if Scotland is to meet ours. In the interim, while there is some uncertainty over the precise route that can be taken, we believe it is right to be as ambitious as possible to drive the action required to make the changes we need.”
A spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion Scotland was scathing. They said the legislation “confines us to a 50-50 chance of keeping warming below 1.5 degrees”.
They added: “You wouldn’t get in a car that had a 50-50 chance of arriving at its destination, so why are we allowing our politicians to drive us into this environmental pileup? Just months ago, the First Minister declared a Global Climate Emergency. This is not what an emergency response looks like; this response is business as usual.”
However, the Just Transition Partnership, a coalition of trade unions and environmental organisations, welcomed the new legislation.
Dave Moxham, deputy general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress said: “Going forward the Scottish Government must recognise that the markets have failed to avert climate emergency.
“Ministers must be much more interventionist and willing to take on corporate interests if they are to deliver a truly just transition.”
Last week thousands took to the streets of Scotland, as part of a global climate strike, calling for governments to do more.
The next day, teenage climate activist, Greta Thunberg, who inspired the strikes, excoriated world leaders at a United Nations summit.
“You are failing us,” she said. “But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal.”
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