Scotland's Climate Delivery Group Welcomed - WWF Scotland
8 December 2009
Responding to the launch today (Tuesday 8 December) of the 2020 delivery group at the Falkirk Wheel Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland, said:
“Climate change is a challenge for all of us. It will affect us all and we are all contributing to the problem. Government, businesses and individuals all need to work together to reduce our emissions so the 2020 Delivery Group is a very welcome development.
“This is a remarkable group of leaders from business, the public sector and civil society. This is exactly what is needed if we are to deliver on Scotland’s target of a 42 per cent reduction in climate emissions by 2020. We will need new thinking and new alliances and the 2020 delivery group will really help to make this happen.”
Note for Editors
[1] Scottish Government press release
From: THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
News
December 8, 2009
ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
FIRST MINISTER ANNOUNCES 2020 DELIVERY GROUP AS COPENHAGEN CONFERENCE BEGINS
Nations around the world are being urged to follow Scotland's lead in tackling global warming with senior figures from the public, private and third sector coming together to spearhead the delivery of our world-leading climate change targets.
As the United Nations Climate Change Conference meets in Copenhagen, a new 2020 delivery group, convened by Scottish and Southern Energy Chief Executive Ian Marchant, met for the first time at the Falkirk Wheel this morning.
The group, unveiled today by First Minister Alex Salmond, will ensure that all sectors of Scotland's economy and civic society are able to contribute fully to achieving the Climate Change Delivery Plan, including the target of a 42 per cent emissions reduction by 2020.
Mr Salmond said: "There should be no doubt that climate change is the greatest environmental threat we face, so we must act now, and act together, to tackle it.
"And there should be no doubt about the commitment of the Scottish Government, Parliament and our private, public and third sector partners to tackling climate change. This new group brings together a wide range of expertise to examine in detail the actions needed across Scotland to meet our ambitious climate change targets.
"Not only does our climate change legislation have the most ambitious targets in the world, it includes a clear strategy to implement them and today is a key part of that.
"Our comprehensive climate change framework, including the world-leading emission reduction targets of 42 per cent and 80 per cent by 2020 and 2050 respectively, and the carbon assessment of our 2010-11 budget, provides a lead to other governments looking to Scotland as a model of international best practice.
"While prevented from joining the UK delegation at the UN summit - unlike the position of other devolved national and regional governments - our global engagement continues, led in Copenhagen next week by our Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson.
"The Scottish Government is also working to secure our place as the green energy capital of Europe through direct investment and initiatives such as our #10m Saltire Prize for renewable marine energy innovation. And we are well on track to meet our targets of 31 per cent renewable electricity demand by 2011 and 50 per cent by 2020.
"Of course, Scotland is already experiencing climate change and we continue to build our resilience to the potential risks that brings, such as increased flooding. Again we are leading the way as one of very few countries to adopt a strategic approach to adaptation. This is set out in the Climate Change Adaptation Framework that I'm publishing today and whose approach could be adopted by other countries."
Mr Marchant, currently Chair of the Climate Change Business Delivery Group, said: "Climate change and delivering an economy based on securing sustainable energy sources are twin challenges for Scotland's environment, economy and people".
"Government alone cannot hope to tackle these challenges. This is where the proposal for the 2020 delivery group has come from; a view that those key people in Scotland who are in a position to contribute or influence action should work together.
"It is fitting that we meet for the first time as the summit in Copenhagen gets under way, as it sends a strong message to that summit, that here in Scotland we are demonstrating leadership and acting positively to deliver the changes that are necessary.
"Today we initiate a process, and anyone who feels they have something to offer in support of practical delivery will be invited to contribute as the group sets out its work programme."
Background
1. The Scottish Government's Climate Change Delivery Plan, published in June, can be accessed here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/06/18103720/0. It identifies the key sectors for abatement and four major transformational outcomes to deliver the 2050 target:
* a largely carbon-free electricity generation sector by 2030, exploiting Scotland's vast potential in renewable energy complemented by fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage;
* largely carbon-free heating for buildings by 2050, through reduced demand, energy efficiency, and renewable and low carbon heating;
* almost complete decarbonisation of road transport by 2050, with significant progress by 2030, through wholesale adoption of electric cars and vans;
* a comprehensive approach to carbon in rural land use.
2. The 2020 delivery group members are: Richard Ackroyd, Chief Executive, Scottish Water; Lesley Ballantyne, Chief Executive, John Lewis Partnership Glasgow; Prof Jan Bebbington, University of St Andrews; Jo Bucci, Chief Executive, People's Postcode Lottery; Brendan Dick, Director, BT Scotland (represented on December 8 by Anna Steven); Dr Campbell Gemmell, Chief Executive, SEPA; Gordon Grant, Grangemouth Works General Manager, INEOS; Ronnie Hinds, Chief Executive, Fife Council; Nick Horler, Chief Executive, ScottishPower; Graham Hutcheon, Operations Director, Edrington Group; Josh Kane, Scottish Youth Parliament (represented on December 8 by Iain Fleming); David Lee, freelance writer and media consultant; Ian Marchant, Chief Executive, Scottish and Southern Energy; John Mason, Director, Climate Change & Water Industry, Scottish Government; Ian McKay, Scottish Director, Royal Mail Group; Dr Simon Pepper, climate change adviser; Lady Susan Rice, Managing Director, Lloyds Bank!
ing Group Scotland; Mike Robinson, Chairperson, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland; Nicola Shaw, Managing Director, FirstGroup; Grahame Smith, General Secretary, STUC (unable to attend on December 8); Brian Souter, Chief Executive, Stagecoach; Michael Tracey, Managing Director, William Tracey Ltd; James Withers, Chief Executive, NFU Scotland; and Jane Wood, Chief Executive, Scottish Business in the Community.
3. The working remit for the 2020 group, to be discussed at today's meeting, is to:
* build on the work of the Climate Change Business Delivery Group and other climate change alliances to provide strong, visible leadership to Scotland's business and non-governmental communities to inspire them to do more to reduce carbon emissions.
* help drive innovation through partnerships and synergies between members
* advise on, and aim to make early progress towards, achievement of the outcomes and targets of the Climate Change Delivery Plan.
* identify relevant action and opportunities, and collaborate, to bring benefits to the Scottish economy.
* identify where the group can best target its resources and expertise to accelerate the development, investment and action required across the following areas: Heat, Electricity, Waste, Transport, Rural land use & forestry, Consumer behaviour & attitudes.
4. Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Framework, published today, will drive action to make Scotland more resilient to climate change. In releasing the Framework, the Scottish Government is taking a coordinated, strategic lead and is challenging all sectors to take action and play their part capitalising on the opportunities and adapting to the negative consequences of climate change. The Framework can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/climatechangeadaptation
[2] Keep up to date with what is happening during the UN Climate Change Talks in Copenhagen by checking out our WWF Scotland Diary http://scotland.wwf.org.uk/copenhagen
[3] WWF Scotland is part of Stop Climate Chaos, an alliance of development, environment and civil society groups aiming for tougher action to reduce emissions - http://stopclimatechaosscotland.org
