Government claims that climate change targets can be achieved

MINISTERS said yesterday that Scotland remains on course to reach its world-leading climate change targets, but opposition parties and campaigners accused the SNP of abandoning or delaying interim goals.

Environment minister Roseanna Cunningham published a report outlining how the Scottish Government will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by 2020, compared with 1990, and by 80 per cent by 2050.

However Labour's environment spokeswoman Sarah Boyack said ministers had dumped their promise to set up a statutory 3 per cent year-on-year reduction of CO emissions.

She said yesterday: "The national strategy on electric vehicles is delayed until after the election. There's absolutely no sign of the SNP's election manifesto promise of renewables in every school.

"Today's statement is simply too little and too late."