Carbon dioxide reductions “an illusion” – Friends of the Earth Scotland comment

Commenting on remarks by the UK Government’s new climate policy advisor professor David Mackay, Friends of the Earth Scotland congratulated the Scottish Government for taking leadership on addressing the problem of ‘exported emissions’.

Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, Duncan McLaren, said:

“Yet again Prof Mackay has dared to name an elephant in the room. Rich countries like the UK are exporting their emissions, not only through our reliance on imported manufactured goods, but also because of loopholes in the European emissions trading scheme which can mean that emissions remaining in the UK don’t count against our targets.

“Both these loopholes must be plugged as the UK and Scotland implement their climate legislation. Thanks to strong campaigning by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, the Scottish Government has moved ahead of the UK and already agreed to measure our real emissions footprint, including emissions related to imported goods. Measurement is only the first step towards tackling the real problem but the Scottish Government should be congratulated for beginning the proces.

“This is yet another reason why Scottish ministers should be in the official UK delegation at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December.”

Professor Mackay believes that reductions in carbon emissions since 1990 are “an illusion” and have only decreased because we have exported our industry overseas.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland

T: 0131 243 2719

Notes to Editors

1.    The article in the BBC is at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8283909.stm

2.    Friends of the Earth Scotland exists to help people in Scotland look after the planet for everyone’s future. We think globally and act locally in Scotland, delivering solutions to climate change by enabling and empowering people to take both individual and collective action. We offer help to people with the big things in life – helping to sustain a healthy society and environment. We believe that all of our children’s futures will be better because of what we do. www.foe-scotland.org.uk