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Scottish ministers accused of 'dismal' strategy to cut climate emissions Scottish ministers accused of 'dismal' strategy to cut climate emissions
(3 months later)
Alex Salmond's government has been lambasted by allies and green groups after releasing a "dismal" master plan to meet Scotland's challenging climate targets.Alex Salmond's government has been lambasted by allies and green groups after releasing a "dismal" master plan to meet Scotland's challenging climate targets.
After months of dialogue with environment groups, the Scottish government has produced its second report on proposals and policies (RPP2), a 14-year-long strategy.After months of dialogue with environment groups, the Scottish government has produced its second report on proposals and policies (RPP2), a 14-year-long strategy.
But, to the annoyance of climate groups, its new headline proposal on climate was limited to spending £2m on preparations to upgrade street lights to highly energy efficient LED bulbs – a policy announced by ministers last month, and one not actually detailed in RPP2.But, to the annoyance of climate groups, its new headline proposal on climate was limited to spending £2m on preparations to upgrade street lights to highly energy efficient LED bulbs – a policy announced by ministers last month, and one not actually detailed in RPP2.
Earlier this month, the devolved government admitted it had missed its legally-binding annual cut in carbon emissions for the second year running, fuelling renewed attacks from campaigners about the scope and ambition of the first minister's climate policies.Earlier this month, the devolved government admitted it had missed its legally-binding annual cut in carbon emissions for the second year running, fuelling renewed attacks from campaigners about the scope and ambition of the first minister's climate policies.
Salmond has repeatedly boasted about the Scottish government's climate and renewable energy policies, promoting the target to cut emissions by 42% by 2020 as "world leading" at global summits and offering to share lessons with vulnerable nations such as the Maldives and Kenya.Salmond has repeatedly boasted about the Scottish government's climate and renewable energy policies, promoting the target to cut emissions by 42% by 2020 as "world leading" at global summits and offering to share lessons with vulnerable nations such as the Maldives and Kenya.
The Scottish government has so far been unable to state how many street lights there are in Scotland, or how many tonnes of CO2 would be saved by converting them to LEDs, or the total cost of doing so.The Scottish government has so far been unable to state how many street lights there are in Scotland, or how many tonnes of CO2 would be saved by converting them to LEDs, or the total cost of doing so.
Yet it has to cut its annual CO2 emissions by 44% in the next seven years against the 1990 figure. It needs to cut its current emissions of about 56m tonnes a year, to 40m tonnes in 2020, to hit its target.Yet it has to cut its annual CO2 emissions by 44% in the next seven years against the 1990 figure. It needs to cut its current emissions of about 56m tonnes a year, to 40m tonnes in 2020, to hit its target.
The Scottish Green party, which is an ally of the Scottish National party in the pro-independence campaign, and has previously supported SNP climate policies, said Thursday's announcement showed that the government was on track to again miss its targets by failing to take any serious action to cut emissions and change public behaviour.The Scottish Green party, which is an ally of the Scottish National party in the pro-independence campaign, and has previously supported SNP climate policies, said Thursday's announcement showed that the government was on track to again miss its targets by failing to take any serious action to cut emissions and change public behaviour.
Alison Johnstone, the Green MSP for Lothians, said:Alison Johnstone, the Green MSP for Lothians, said:
This is a pretty dismal plan without a single upgraded policy despite months of scrutiny and suggestions. The missed climate targets should have been a massive kick up the backside of the government but today they set us on a course that is highly likely to repeat this failure.This is a pretty dismal plan without a single upgraded policy despite months of scrutiny and suggestions. The missed climate targets should have been a massive kick up the backside of the government but today they set us on a course that is highly likely to repeat this failure.
The government's plans to cut transport emissions are widely recognised as wafer-thin with zero focus on reducing demand.The government's plans to cut transport emissions are widely recognised as wafer-thin with zero focus on reducing demand.
The plans talk of 120,000 electric cars on our roads in just 7 years' time, when there are currently just a few hundred, and meanwhile a pathetically small part of the transport budget is spent on infrastructure to improve cycling and walking.The plans talk of 120,000 electric cars on our roads in just 7 years' time, when there are currently just a few hundred, and meanwhile a pathetically small part of the transport budget is spent on infrastructure to improve cycling and walking.
We seem to have moved no further forward on district heating despite its huge potential to warm our communities better.We seem to have moved no further forward on district heating despite its huge potential to warm our communities better.
Tom Ballantine, chair of the influential umbrella group Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, which until last year had also been strong supporters of Salmond's stance on climate and green energy, said Paul Wheehouse, the environment minister, had simply improved the presentation and design of the report after complaints that it was poorly drafted.Tom Ballantine, chair of the influential umbrella group Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, which until last year had also been strong supporters of Salmond's stance on climate and green energy, said Paul Wheehouse, the environment minister, had simply improved the presentation and design of the report after complaints that it was poorly drafted.
But that was essentially it, Ballantine said. Very little of substance had changed in today's final version. Ministers had failed to listen to stakeholders or other MSPs on radical or ambitious proposals. He said:But that was essentially it, Ballantine said. Very little of substance had changed in today's final version. Ministers had failed to listen to stakeholders or other MSPs on radical or ambitious proposals. He said:
The Scottish government's plan is not the step change required to deliver our climate act, especially as they failed to hit the first two emissions targets.The Scottish government's plan is not the step change required to deliver our climate act, especially as they failed to hit the first two emissions targets.
It is particularly concerning that recommendations from MSPs from all parties and stakeholders have not resulted in any significant change to this important plan.It is particularly concerning that recommendations from MSPs from all parties and stakeholders have not resulted in any significant change to this important plan.
Relying on vague proposals, with delayed action until the mid 2020s, instead of financed policies in the short term, tells us that some Ministers are still not taking this anywhere near seriously enough.Relying on vague proposals, with delayed action until the mid 2020s, instead of financed policies in the short term, tells us that some Ministers are still not taking this anywhere near seriously enough.
It's very worrying to see no increased effort in transport, where emissions are as high now as they were twenty years ago, and with a plan that doesn't contain a single Scottish policy to reduce emissions from that sector.It's very worrying to see no increased effort in transport, where emissions are as high now as they were twenty years ago, and with a plan that doesn't contain a single Scottish policy to reduce emissions from that sector.
Wheelhouse insisted that Scotland was already making significant progress meeting its 2020 target, and was already more than halfway there. Next year's budget would free up more cash for that strategy.Wheelhouse insisted that Scotland was already making significant progress meeting its 2020 target, and was already more than halfway there. Next year's budget would free up more cash for that strategy.
He said that in contrast to warnings this week that the UK government was in danger of missing its targets by the Committee on Climate Change, the committee had complimented Scotland's progress.He said that in contrast to warnings this week that the UK government was in danger of missing its targets by the Committee on Climate Change, the committee had complimented Scotland's progress.
Wheelhouse said Scotland's actual emissions had fallen by nearly 10% between 2010 and 2011: that figure, however, has been revised down to a shortfall of 0.8 tonnes CO2e after the counting methodology was changed. But ministers also admit the 2011 fall is largely due to a "spike" in emissions from heating in 2010 thanks to the very cold winter.Wheelhouse said Scotland's actual emissions had fallen by nearly 10% between 2010 and 2011: that figure, however, has been revised down to a shortfall of 0.8 tonnes CO2e after the counting methodology was changed. But ministers also admit the 2011 fall is largely due to a "spike" in emissions from heating in 2010 thanks to the very cold winter.
He said:He said:
A low carbon Scotland will help to protect our environment and grow our economy - with the benefits being felt across Scottish society.A low carbon Scotland will help to protect our environment and grow our economy - with the benefits being felt across Scottish society.
Securing additional funding in next year's budget will enable us to invest in projects which will support the transition to a low carbon society and economy – making smart choices for a greener future.Securing additional funding in next year's budget will enable us to invest in projects which will support the transition to a low carbon society and economy – making smart choices for a greener future.
The specific investment for greener street lighting is an early but great example of making that smart choice and shows that being greener can have significant other benefits too.The specific investment for greener street lighting is an early but great example of making that smart choice and shows that being greener can have significant other benefits too.
We are committed to doing all we can to tackle climate change and meet our challenging targets.We are committed to doing all we can to tackle climate change and meet our challenging targets.
We are already leading the way in Europe - and our emissions reductions by 2011 were larger in size than Northern Ireland's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2011, which signals the scale of Scotland's achievements to date and even if no proposals were implemented we would be on track to exceed climate change targets of high ambition nations like Denmark and Germany.We are already leading the way in Europe - and our emissions reductions by 2011 were larger in size than Northern Ireland's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2011, which signals the scale of Scotland's achievements to date and even if no proposals were implemented we would be on track to exceed climate change targets of high ambition nations like Denmark and Germany.
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