Westminster 'set to beat Holyrood' on climate change pledges

Published on Monday 6 October 2008 21:44

THE director of an environment charity thinks Westminster may be about to overtake Holyrood as having the most ambitious climate change bill in the world.

The UK committee on climate change yesterday advised the UK government to set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. This would be 20 points higher than its current target of 60 per cent, and would match the Scottish Government's target.

Adair Turner, the committee's chairman, also told Ed Miliband, the new Energy and Climate Change Secretary, that the targets should cover all emissions, not just carbon dioxide, and all sectors of the UK economy including shipping and aviation.

In contrast, the Scottish Government has left plans vague as to whether it will include international aviation and shipping in its climate change bill, which is due to come before parliament later this year.

Dr Richard Dixon, director of WWF Scotland, confirmed this could mean the UK government's climate change legislation was stronger than that of Scotland. He said: "Mr Salmond promised parliament at the start of this month that the Scottish bill would be more ambitious than the UK bill in 'in every respect'."

He added: "With a clear message from the climate change committee and a clear political commitment to produce the best climate bill in the world, the Scottish Government must now bring forward a bill that includes all of Scotland's emissions."

He said Scotland should be setting an example to the rest of the world.