Letters: Carbon targets

IN YOUR article (UK to benefit from Canada tar sands, 6 February) James Wright, Canada's top UK diplomat, gives the Canadian government's figure for the carbon pollution created by oil produced from tar sands.

His figure is up to almost five times lower than an independent study commissioned by the EU which shows pollution from this to be 23 per cent higher than conventional crude.

WWF believes the EU should create legislation that encourages the use of low-carbon fuel. Any fuel source with high levels of carbon pollution should be restricted in the EU, regardless of where it comes from.

(Dr) Richard Dixon

Director, WWF Scotland

Dunkeld

Perthshire

ENVIRONMENT minister Roseanna Cunningham has met the EU Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard in Brussels.

The Perth SNP MSP called for the current 2020 carbon emission reductions commitment to be increased from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Very few countries have agreed to legally binding CO2 reduction targets, so why does Ms Cunningham want to show Scotland has the "best CO2 reduction targets in the world".

With only 0.2 per cent of global CO2 emissions it is like a fleabite to an elephant.

As China, India and now Asia increasing their emissions and have no intention of setting CO2 reduction targets, it seems pointless for Scotland to fraudulently strut the world stage.

Clark Cross

Springfield Road

Linlithgow