An update on the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill has been released by the Scottish Parliament, highlighting the planned 2050 target of 90% reduction in greenhouse gases, and the progress to date on individual sectors. BEFS have submitted a response which calls for a commitment to work towards zero net emissions by 2050.
The Scottish Parliament writes:
To date Scotland’s emissions have reduced by 49% since 1990. However sectoral progress varies considerably. Emission cuts of 69% from energy and 73% from waste contrast with reductions of 28% from agriculture, 21% from residential, and just 3% from transport.
The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill responds to the UNFCCC Paris Agreement which seeks to limit global temperature rises to ‘well below’ 2 degrees C and to ‘pursue efforts’ to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The Scottish Government, having taken advice from the Committee on Climate Change, and carried out a consultation, proposes to make substantial changes to the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The Bill:
- Increases the 2050 target for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 80% to 90%; it also increases the target level for 2020 (42% to 56%), and introduces new targets for 2030 (66%) and 2040 (78%). All targets are now expressed in percentage terms, rather than megatonnes of carbon to improve stability and transparency.
- Allows for a target of 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (known as a net zero target) from the baseline to be created at a future date.
- Makes changes to the way emissions are accounted for when assessing and reporting on targets by removing the adjustment currently allowed through carbon trading (under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme). This means that all changes in domestic emissions are now accounted for. This does not affect the operation of EU ETS in Scotland.
- Sets a default limit of zero carbon credit usage for all future years, unless Ministers bring forward regulations (removing the current requirement for Ministers to set a limit in credit use every five years).
- Complements the move to percentage based targets by freezing the methods used to measure emissions for rolling periods of up to five years. This means that targets are assessed against the methods that were in place when they were set, and manages the challenges posed by volatile changes to emissions measurement science.
- Changes the name of Reports on Policies and Procedures to Climate Change Plans and extends the time available for parliamentary consideration of the Plan from 60 to 90 days.
- Rationalises and improves existing annual reporting duties, and stops double reporting. It also puts a new reporting requirement in place to provide further detail on progress against Climate Change Plans.
The Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament in May 2018, and the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee was designated as the lead Committee. Stage 1 scrutiny is expected to commence on 23 October 2018.
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DOWNLOAD BEFS response
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