SNP must do more to meet emissions targets

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has today published its first progress report of 2012, which shows that total emissions in Scotland fell by 7% in 2009 due to the recession.

However, it indicated that pollution levels appear to have increased in 2010, while emissions were also likely to have risen that year.

In 2009 the Scottish Government passed legislation which commits to cut emissions by 42% from 1990 levels by 2020. This target seems unrealistic since overall emissions have only fallen by a third in twenty years, while emissions from road transport have risen by 4% since 1990.

Since the SNP came to power in 2007, there has only been a 5% drop in emissions (2007-2009).

Scottish Conservative Environment Spokesman, Jamie McGrigor MSP said:

"These numbers are definitely a step in the right direction, but this SNP Government must do more if Scotland is to achieve the ambitious targets set.

"The SNP are claiming credit for reducing emissions in 2009, which the CCC report attributes to the recession, and they have already begun with their excuses as to why 2010 emissions might be higher.

"It is imperative that the Environment Minister continues to liaise with the UK government to ensure the efficient implementation of UK and EU policies to further cut emissions.

"Relying solely on renewable energy sources, while blindly disregarding the benefits of Nuclear energy, will not help the SNP reach their targets. Nuclear energy is a sustainable and low carbon source and they must start to realise its importance."

Scotland's climate change target is more than the UK government's (34%) and the EU's (20%)

UK emissions for 2010 have risen by 3%, and a similar increase is expected in Scotland, but 2010 data will not be available until later in 2012.

Committee on Climate Change Report on Progress: http://downloads.theccc.org.uk.s3.amazonaws.com/Scottish%20report/1552_CCC_Scotland%20report_6_bookmarked.pdf

Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2009/12/contents

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