A TOP climate expert has said he is "particularly pleased" with the steps Scotland is taking to tackle the challenges of climate change.
Lord Deben, chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC) and former UK environment secretary, told Holyrood’s Net Zero Committee that Scotland’s approach has allowed him to "say to other parts of the United Kingdom why don’t they do it as well as the Scots?"
The CCC's purpose is to advise the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets and to report to Parliament on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Lord Deben also said that he hopes that the relationship between the CCC and is one that they are proud of and "which we hope will continue to grow".
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He added that "it looks as if" the relationship will be able to be made "even closer" when the Committee is able to open an office in Scotland which will "emphasise the very clear difference between what we do here and what we do in the rest of the United Kingdom".
The Scottish Government has passed legislation that aims to make Scotland a net-zero country by 2045 – something hailed by the UN as “an inspiring example of the level of ambition we need globally”.
SNP MSP Fiona Hyslop (below), who is also Net Zero Committee deputy convener, said: “It was encouraging to hear Lord Deben praise the approach taken by the Scottish Government in achieving our net zero targets and that in Scotland we are able to set an example which climate experts such as Lord Deben can take to other parts of the UK.
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“Scotland continues to lead the UK in producing clean energy from renewable sources. Scotland produces the equivalent of 97% of electricity demand from renewables and produces a surplus to be exported elsewhere too.
“In Scotland, we also continue to take the lead in other initiatives such as tree-planting and removing diesel vehicles from our roads.
“Although there has been significant progress made we still have a lot of hard work to come to ensure that we meet our ambitious net-zero targets by 2045, but it is encouraging that Scotland is taking the lead in developing net-zero solutions.”
Lord Deben's comments come after 18-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg said that she did not think Scotland - or any other country in the "global north" - was doing enough to combat climate change.
Questioned by BBC Scotland on whether Scotland is a world leader on climate change, Thunberg said: “No … I mean, there are some countries that do a bit more than certain others, but then if we look at it from a broader perspective then I think we can safely say there are no countries – at least in the global north – that are even doing close to what would be needed.”
Scotland’s climate change legislation includes a target to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, which the Scottish Government has said is “world-leading”.
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While she was sceptical of the SNP's deal with the Scottish Greens, Thunberg said: “It’s a hopeful sign that people want something that’s more ‘green’ – whatever ‘green’ means – but in order to solve this, we need to tackle this at a more systemic approach.”
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