Bill to ditch Scotland’s climate targets introduced
The Scottish Government today introduced legislation that would scrap its critical 2030 targets to reduce climate emissions.
The controversial choice to scrap the climate commitments was described as the “worst environmental decision in the history of the Scottish Parliament” when it was announced in April 2024.
In recent months, the leadership of John Swinney and Kate Forbes has rolled back on climate commitments, weakening its stance on new fossil fuels, undermining sustainable transport and reducing funding for environmental restoration schemes.
Ministers have consistently failed to bring forward the transformative action needed to bring down emissions and improve lives since the introduction of targets in 2009, with the Scottish Government missing 9 out of 13 annual targets.
The fallout from the scandal eventually resulted in the end of the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and Greens and First Minister Humza Yousaf having to resign his post.
Friends of the Earth Scotland just transition campaigner Rosie Hampton commented,
“The Scottish Government are moving the climate goalposts but they are still going to miss the target. The shameful record of cuts and backsliding on climate action we’ve witnessed in recent months under John Swinney and Kate Forbes show that this Government is not serious about getting back on track. New targets are meaningless without new action.
“The climate crisis is here and is destroying lives and livelihoods today. The need for an urgent and fair transition away from fossil fuels cannot be overstated, yet Ministers are slowing progress, defunding programmes and abdicating their responsibility to people on the front line of climate breakdown. This appalling lack of ambition must not be replicated when it comes to the crucial transition planning needed by oil and gas workers and their communities.
“Cuts to climate action will make people’s lives worse, roads will be more dangerous for cyclists, fares will be hiked for public transport users and communities will be left more vulnerable to flooding. This legislation will do nothing to fix that. Climate failure ultimately cost Humza Yousaf his job but it seems like the current First Minister has learned nothing from that sorry episode. “
Notes to Editors
Scottish Government Climate Change Bill published today https://www.gov.scot/news/climate-change-bill-published/
FoES reaction to the announcement that 2030 targets would be scrapped (April 2024) https://foe.scot/press-release/climate-targets-scrapped-worst-decision-in-the-history-of-the-scottish-parliament/
All the parties in the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of the 75% emission reduction target by 2030 when the Climate Act was strengthened in 2019 – at the time the Greens were calling for 80% by the same date. Climate scientists are clear that there must be urgent action to bring down emissions within this decade
UK Government opinion surveys regularly show at least 80% of the public are concerned about climate change
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/desnz-public-attitudes-tracker-winter-2023
The Scottish Government are still considering an application from energy giants SSE and Equinor to build a new gas-fired power station at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, in addition to the existing gas plant.
https://foe.scot/peterhead-power-station-explained/
Friends of the Earth Scotland is:
* Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation
* An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland
* Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 73 national member groups, and 5,000 local activist groups.