Scotland must become the first UK nation to set out a net-zero-compatible plan, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has argued.
It says in a new report that Scottish Government is in a unique position to detail how it plans to deliver a green recovery when it publishes its updated Climate Change Plan in December.
Despite the uncertainty around Covid-19, doing so would put it ahead of the rest of the UK as Scotland seeks to become the UK’s first Net Zero economy by 2045, according to CCC’s progress report to the nation’s parliament.
The report shows that Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 31% in the decade 2008 to 2018, faster than any other nation of the UK and any G20 nation over the same period.
This was led by action in the power sector, where Scottish renewable generation has tripled and fossil-fuelled generation has fallen by more than 70% in the last decade.
However, over the same decade, emissions in the other sectors of the Scottish economy fell by just 14%.
Scotland missed its annual emissions target in 2018 – and the 2020 target is only likely to be met because lockdown restrictions have constrained emissions temporarily.
Sustained action over the long-term is now imperative to meet Scotland’s demanding targets, CCC argues.
CCC chairman Lord Deven (pictured), said: “Scotland faces an extraordinary challenge in dealing with COVID-19, but we must not lose sight of the climate crisis.
“The decisions to secure a resilient recovery are pivotal. Scotland can no longer rely on electricity generation to reduce its emissions, so it must begin to make more meaningful progress in the other sectors of the economy.
“To reach net-zero emissions ahead of the rest of the UK and to earn its stripes as an international climate leader when the world looks to Glasgow next year, decisive action and clear policies are urgently required.”
CCC has recommended the Scottish Government should deliver an updated Climate Change Plan which puts Scotland firmly on course to become a Net Zero economy by 2045.
It also wants to see a UK Emissions Trading System that is aligned to Net Zero and a vision for the future of low-carbon heating in Scotland’s homes and other buildings.
Responding to the report, chief executive of Scottish Renewables Claire Mack said: “The report echoes our message that net zero and climate adaptation must be at the heart of government policy.
The CCC clearly sets out that Scotland can, and must, become the first UK nation to set out a net-zero-compatible plan to achieve our climate commitments and deliver a green recovery with renewable energy as its foundation.”