Scotland set to scrap key climate targets

Scotland has missed eight of the past 12 annual targets and its wider plans are "beyond what is credible", according to independent experts. Ministers and government officials have refused to comment.

Connor Gillies

Scotland correspondent @ConnorGillies

Thursday 18 April 2024 11:29, UK

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Scotland is expected to announce a dramatic watering down of its key climate targets, Sky News understands.

The Scottish government will deliver a ministerial statement at Holyrood on Thursday after a report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) said the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 is out of reach.

Scotland has missed eight of the past 12 annual targets and its wider plans are "beyond what is credible", according to the independent experts.

Campaign organisation Friends of the Earth Scotland described the decision as "the worst environmental decision in the history of the Scottish parliament".

Ministers and government officials have so far refused to comment on suggestions its ambitions will be weakened but multiple sources are widely expecting a U-turn.

Ahead of the ministerial statement, the convener of the net zero, energy and transport committee said the news "is sombre confirmation that Scotland is falling behind on its climate targets".

Edward Mountain MSP added: "We once again ask the Scottish government to present to the parliament, as soon as possible, a coherent, realistic and practical delivery plan for net zero that will restore its ambition to lead from the front."

In a damning report to the Scottish parliament last month, the CCC said: "The Scottish government is failing to achieve Scotland's ambitious climate goals."

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who announced the initial climate plans, rejected suggestions she had "overcooked" the ambitions when asked at a COP26 event in Glasgow in 2021.

Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan will deliver the update in Edinburgh on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking ahead of it, she said: "Climate backtracking at Westminster, UK government financial mismanagement, and the continuing constraints of devolution means that we are trying to deliver the societal and economic transformation demanded by the climate emergency with one hand tied behind our back.

"Whilst we are faced with a UK government which is rowing back on climate action, and hostile to measures already adopted by nations across the world like the Deposit Return Scheme, the progress we have made since Scotland declared a global climate emergency in 2019 and since Glasgow hosted COP26 in 2021 is now at risk.

"This cannot continue. The future of our planet and the security of future generations is far too important."

Mark Ruskell, climate spokesperson for the Green Party, which is in partnership with the SNP in government, said: "We are absolutely determined to accelerate the urgent and substantial action needed to tackle the climate crisis as laid out by the CCC recently, and fully expect the Scottish government to respond to that challenge.

"This is a pivotal moment for us to ramp up the kind of meaningful change that will put us on track to achieve net zero by 2045 at the latest, in the face of a complete reversal of climate action from the UK government."

'Worst environmental decision in history of Scottish parliament'

Imogen Dow, Friends of the Earth Scotland's head of campaigns, said: "If the SNP and Green ministers choose to scrap these vital climate commitments, it would be the worst environmental decision in the history of the Scottish parliament.

"The 2030 target could and should have been met, but instead it looks like politicians are going to break their promises and betray both their constituents and the most vulnerable people on the frontlines of climate breakdown.

"These climate targets are based on what climate science says Scotland must do as part of a global effort to limit dangerous warming. Politicians right across the spectrum made a promise to the people of Scotland by voting for strong 2030 targets so they must be willing to work together to back the transformative ideas that improve lives and cut climate pollution.

"Instead of using the past decade to deliver warm homes, reliable public transport and a fair transition away from fossil fuels, inept, short-termist politicians have kept millions of people trapped in the broken status quo that only benefits big polluters."

Scotland set to scrap key climate targets

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