Party leaders stand by emission targets

The leaders of Scotland’s political parties have united to reaffirm their commitment to tackling climate change and cutting emissions.

First Minister Alex Salmond, Labour’s Johann Lamont, Tory leader Ruth Davidson and Willie Rennie, of the Liberal Democrats, have all pledged to help meet crucial targets.

Holyrood has passed legislation committing Scotland to cutting emissions by 42 per cent from their 1990 levels by 2020, and to reduce them by 80 per cent by 2050.

However, in January independent advisory body the Committee on Climate Change warned that meeting the 2020 target would require extra effort to reduce pollution.

Mr Salmond said Scotland was “almost two-thirds of the way” to meeting the 2020 target.

The First Minister and the other party leaders spoke out on the issue ahead of the environmental body WWF’s Earth Hour next Saturday.