Scotland misses climate targets for fourth year

THE Scottish Government has been accused of a “staggering lack of ambition” in its efforts to tackle climate change after official figures revealed it has missed its own green targets for the fourth year in a row.

Campaigners and political opponents demanded action as environment minister Aileen McLeod admitted she was “disappointed” the government’s annual targets for greenhouse gas emissions had not been reached. Dr McLeod made a statement to MSPs yesterday after a report showed emissions fell by 3.6 per cent between 2012 and 2013, to 53 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. When that total is adjusted to take into account the EU emissions trading system, the figure falls to 49.725 MtCO2e (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) – above the target set by Scotland’s climate change laws of 47.976 MtCO2e for the year.

The most recent reductions contribute to an overall 38.4 per cent drop in adjusted emissions since 1990. But cuts of at least 42 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050 are required by the 2009 Climate Change (Scotland) Act.

The targets are among the world’s toughest and were designed to help limit a global temperature rise to no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels.

Dr McLeod said that Scotland “like all other countries … must continue to lift the pace of our actions” but also tried to put a positive gloss on the figures, saying: “Scotland is well on track to meet our ambitious emissions targets, with these latest figures for 2013 showing we are more than three-quarters of the way there with seven years still to go.

“Our emissions have fallen by 38.4 per cent from the 1990 baseline, outperforming the original 31.7 per cent reduction that was required to meet the 2013 annual fixed target.

“Today’s figures show if it had not been for successive increases to the baseline since the targets were established, Scotland would have met, and exceeded, our target for this year and the three previous years, too.”

Dr McLeod insisted ministers had put together a “comprehensive package of policies and measures”, announcing a new energy efficiency programme for all properties in Scotland, both residential and commercial. This “has the potential to transform the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing stock” she said. “It will provide an offer of support for all buildings in Scotland to help them achieve a good energy efficiency rating over a 15- to 20-year period.”

The Scottish Government has already increased its investment in domestic energy efficiency from £94 million last year to £119m this year, and since 2009 has committed more than £500m to tackling fuel poverty and energy efficiency, she said.

The government will also establish a second future transport fund to help reduce emissions from this sector and encourage people to be more active. With the school run a “significant cause” of congestion and local air pollution, Dr McLeod said ministers would “investigate school transport choices”.

Meanwhile, an additional £5m will be made available over the next two years to help councils roll out food waste collections to homes across Scotland.