Scotland's climate targets should apply across UK says powerful Westminster Committee
11 January 2010
UK Government urged to follow Scotland's lead.
WWF Scotland today (Monday 11 January) welcomed a report by the influential UK Environmental Audit Committee which calls on the UK Government to follow Scotland's lead by cutting emissions of greenhouse gases by 42 per cent by 2020 - the target enshrined in law by the Scottish Climate Change Act, which was passed unanimously last year. [1]
In spite of the failure of world leaders to agree a new legally binding climate deal in Copenhagen, the Committee also called on the UK Government to implement this new target irrespective of whether or not the EU increases its own target for cutting emissions.
Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said:
"We have been calling for others to follow Scotland's lead on setting climate targets, so it is very welcome to have this influential committee support the view that the whole of UK should also cut emissions by 42 per cent by 2020.
"After the shambles of Copenhagen, it is all the more important for individual countries to show leadership in setting tough targets. Scotland is already working out how to deliver on its 42 per cent target and the UK needs to step up to the same level of ambition if the global community are to be persuaded to work together to prevent temperatures rising above the 2C safety threshold.
"Scotland's ambitious 2020 target was heard loud and clear by many nations during the Copenhagen summit. If the UK were to increase its target this would send out a clear message to other world leaders that they need to rapidly make up for their failure to put enough on the table during the Copenhagen talks."
Notes to Editors
[1] House of Commons press release
Environmental Audit Committee
http://news.parliament.uk/2010/01/uk-efforts-meaningless-without-global-climate-deal-mps-warn/
[2] 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
