MSPS Seek More Green Target Ideas

Scotland's new environment minister is being urged to consider what more could be done to meet the country's ambitious climate change targets. Members of Holyrood's Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee also warned Aileen MacLeod that any reduction in the tough targets would not send the right message globally about Scotland's commitment'' to cutting emissions. In June it was revealed that Scotland had missed its target for reducing greenhouse gases for the third year in a row. Paul Wheelhouse, the then environment minister, said that achieving the Scottish Government's ''ambitious'' targets waseven harder than Parliament and society realised''. Emissions rose slightly (0.8%) in 2012, bucking a general downward trend over the last decade. In 2012, emissions were estimated to be 55.6 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), above the target of 53.226 Mt. Committee convener Rob Gibson told Ms MacLeod it was a disappointment that the three successive annual targets have been missed''. Mr Gibson, an SNP MSP, saidwhilst the targets are tough to meet, they set out the ambition Scotland has enshrined in law'', arguing that any change to these could be seen, perhaps globally, as being a climbdown from the ambitious targets set'', including the goal of cutting emissions by 80% by 2050.Revising the annual targets at this time would not send the right message globally about Scotland's commitment to achieving those targets and significantly reducing its emissions,'' Mr Gibson told the minister." The committee is concerned about the cumulative negative impact of the missed annual targets and would therefore like to see increased efforts across all sectors and parts of society in Scotland to make every effort possible to try and achieve each annual target."The committee encourages the Scottish Government to consider what more can be done to meet the targets.'' He also stressed that making real progress requires a change in approach and behaviour across all parts of society and cannot be delivered by government alone'' and told Ms MacLeod:We all have a responsibility to shine a light on those who are not delivering as much as they could and encourage them to engage and improve.'' Mr Gibson said MSPs on the committee were under no illusions about the scale of the challenge facing Scotland, where there are many older, hard to heat and hard to treat, houses, and significant rural and fuel poverty in many parts of the country''. He added that MSPs would be keen to find out from the ministerwhat more can be done to try and meet this challenge''. Mr Gibson stated: The legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament commits Scotland to reducing emissions by at least 80% by 2050 and is world-leading in terms of ambition.However, that ambition has to be translated into action. It is now time to activate real change in approach and behaviour across all underperforming sectors of society, both public and private. At a political level, we need to ensure phrases such as 'all ministers are climate change ministers' and 'all committees are climate change committees' are not just words, and that responsibilities are understood and taken seriously."But a change in approach and behaviour across all parts of society cannot be delivered by Government alone." We must support those who are not delivering as much as they can to make Scotland a world leader, and encourage them to engage and improve.''