'More effort needed' on pollution

Jan 31 2012

Extra effort to cut emissions in Scotland will be needed to achieve climate change targets, a leading body has warned.

Legislation passed by Holyrood commits to cut emissions by 42% from 1990 levels by 2020.

However, independent advisory body the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said meeting this would require "additional effort" to reduce pollution, or a tightening up of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

The CCC said total emissions in Scotland fell 7% in 2009, although "it is likely that much of this reduction was due to the recession". It also said pollution is "likely" to have risen in 2010, partly as a result of the cold weather.

The CCC, in its first progress report on emission reductions in Scotland, said projections suggested that levels in 2020 "will be 38% below 1990 levels". The report stated: "Meeting the target will require a tightening of the EU ETS cap, or additional effort to reduce domestic emissions."

Tom Ballantine, chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: "This assessment of Scotland's progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions makes it pretty clear the Government must raise its game."

The CCC report said "overall, emissions have fallen by almost a third since the 1990 base year". Since 1990 emissions have fallen in all sectors, except for a 4% rise in pollution from transport, including from international aviation and shipping.

CCC chief executive David Kennedy said "good progress" has been made but added: "Going forward, it will be important for the Scottish Government to continue to support the implementation of policies at both UK and national level to further cut emissions."

Environment and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said the report was a "welcome contribution to our understanding of what we need to do to achieve our climate change targets".

He stated: "I am pleased to note the committee's acknowledgement of the positive contribution the policies in our first Report on Policies and Proposals (RPP) have made to emissions abatement."