Scotland should take urgent action to strengthen its climate change policy in all parts of the economy after emissions reductions slowed, according to the Committee on Climate Change.
The statutory climate advisor’s 2019 Progress Report to the Scottish Parliament showed greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 3% in 2017 compared to a 10% fall in 2016.
The fall was led by the power sector due in large part to Scotland’s first full year of coal-free power generation.
The CCC however said performance in other sectors showed incremental improvement and, unless emissions reductions are delivered economy-wide, Scotland is at risk of missing its target of a 56% reduction in emissions by 2020.
“The spotlight is now on Scotland’s plan to deliver meaningful reductions across all sectors of the economy, including from buildings, road transport, agriculture and land use. Their contribution to reducing emissions is vital to Scotland’s success,” said CCC chairman Lord Deben.
The CCC said Scotland’s next Climate Change Plan must set out a “comprehensive strategy detailing the policies and governance that will drive a rapid, sustained transformation to a net zero society”.
The agency will provide further guidance on the appropriate pathway for Scottish emissions over the period to 2045 as part of its advice on the Sixth UK Carbon Budget, due in September 2020, it added.