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Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions rise in 2012 Minister claims 'progress' on greenhouse gas emissions
(about 4 hours later)
Scotland's emissions of greenhouse gases rose in 2012, according to government-published figures. Scotland's environment minister has insisted there has been "good progress" on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, after figures showed they rose in 2012.
Emissions of the six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, were estimated to be 52.9m tonnes in 2012. Government-published figures estimated that emissions were 52.9m tonnes in 2012.
This was a 0.8% rise compared to 2011 and exceeded the revised annual emissions target for 2012. This was a 0.8% rise compared to 2011 and means emissions have exceeded targets for three years in a row.
However, the Scottish government said Scotland could still meet its statutory target of a 42% reduction in emissions by 2020. Paul Wheelhouse told MSPs that a target of a 42% reduction in emissions by 2020 could still be met.
Labour accused Scottish ministers of "political spin" while the Scottish Greens called for "bolder action". In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, he said that Scotland was "more than halfway towards our interim target of a 42% reduction".
He outlined measures including a new cabinet sub-committee to co-ordinate policy on climate change and £10m in funding for cycling infrastructure and electric vehicles.
Labour called the figures "deeply embarrassing" while the Scottish Greens called for "bolder action".
The Conservatives urged the Scottish government to consider nuclear power and fracking to boost energy supplies.The Conservatives urged the Scottish government to consider nuclear power and fracking to boost energy supplies.
'Scale of challenge' 'Leading example'
The target was set out in law in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, which the Scottish Parliament passed in 2009. The emissions target was set out in law in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act, which the Scottish Parliament passed in 2009.
The statistics pointed to a 29.9% reduction in estimated emissions between 1990 and 2012, but there was not a uniform downward trend. Official statistics for the Scottish government showed that Scottish emissions of the six greenhouse gases were estimated to be the equivalent of 52.9m tonnes of carbon dioxide.
An order in Parliament in 2010 set the target for 2012 at 53.22m tonnes.
When adjusted to take account of trading in the EU Emissions Trading System, emissions increased by 0.5% between 2011 and 2012 to 55.7m tonnes, exceeding the target.
The figures pointed to a 29.9% reduction in estimated emissions between 1990 and 2012, but there was not a uniform downward trend.
Increases in emissions were recorded in 1999, 2005, 2010 and 2012.Increases in emissions were recorded in 1999, 2005, 2010 and 2012.
Scottish ministers said the figures had been revised since a previous publication in 2013, "to incorporate methodological improvements and new data".Scottish ministers said the figures had been revised since a previous publication in 2013, "to incorporate methodological improvements and new data".
When adjusted to take account of trading in the EU Emissions Trading System, emissions increased by 0.5% between 2011 and 2012. Mr Wheelhouse said: "The data indicates that Scotland has seen a 29.9% reduction in emissions of the basket of six key greenhouse gases between 1990 and 2012.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: "Scotland has the world's leading climate change targets. With a target of 42% by 2020 we are ahead of the UK at 34% and well ahead of the EU at 20%. "On a comparable basis, using data published yesterday, this contrasts with a reduction of 23.9% for England, 17.7% for Wales and 15.0% for Northern Ireland.
"Scotland chose to have stretching targets because we were aware of the scale of the challenge of climate change. And we should be proud of the efforts that have been made across society since the 2009 Climate Change Act. "We also know emissions among all EU-28 members fell by 18.5% and for the EU-15 they fell by just 13.9% over the same period."
"However, since then we have also improved the method for calculating our greenhouse gas emissions. That was the right thing to do, but it now shows that the task is in fact even harder than parliament and society realised in 2009." He also told MSPs that the establishment of a new sub-committee, with members including the deputy first minister, showed that "Scotland is giving a leading example on tackling climate change."
Mr Wheelhouse is due to make a statement to MSPs on the emissions statistics. 'Deeply embarrassing'
'Flimsy excuses' Scottish Labour's environment spokeswoman Claire Baker said this was "the third year I have heard the same excuses and spin from the government".
Scottish Labour's environment spokeswoman Claire Baker said: "It is five years since the Climate Change Act was passed by the parliament but so far the government's lack of action has led to a significant lack of progress on a number of environmental targets. She claimed the missed targets were "deeply embarrassing for a Scottish government that continually heralds them as world leading".
"Time is running out for the Scottish government to prove they are serious about meeting their own targets. She added: "The minister must now fully explain why, under his watch, emissions have risen in the past year and the SNP government have failed to make the step-change needed."
"Today's statement must show that they are willing to take bold action rather than hiding behind flimsy excuses and political spin." Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "There is no doubt that the Scottish government could have been taking bolder action for years now to cut energy waste in the home, tackle congestion and help shift toward greener transport, or any number of other steps to cut our emissions."
Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "This latest failed target will strengthen the growing mood in support of bolder action from government, and it's essential that the climate change minister takes the opportunity to act. He added: "The tough reality is that the first three annual targets were the easy ones - and these are the ones the government has missed.
"There's agreement across the parties at Holyrood for a series of additional policies to cut our greenhouse gas emissions, and it's simply not good enough for ministers to wheel out the same old rhetoric. "The next annual target is the first which demands a really big cut of over five million tonnes, and there is little sign that the government understands the scale of the challenge that lies ahead."
"This afternoon's statement must give detailed plans to get Scotland back on track. Re-announcement of existing commitments would be simply unacceptable." Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes said: "Consensus will only be won when we all believe this government is doing its utmost and I don't believe that is the case at the moment."
Scottish Conservative environment spokesman Jamie McGrigor said: "Given the rise in emissions last year, the SNP is now getting further away from the target, not closer. Ahead of the statement, Scottish Conservative environment spokesman Jamie McGrigor said: "Given the rise in emissions last year, the SNP is now getting further away from the target, not closer.
"A huge and probably unrealistic turnaround will be needed to get anywhere near those goals."A huge and probably unrealistic turnaround will be needed to get anywhere near those goals.
"The SNP should be looking to nuclear power and fracking as ways of boosting energy production without harming the environment.""The SNP should be looking to nuclear power and fracking as ways of boosting energy production without harming the environment."
Gina Hanrahan from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, an alliance of campaigning groups, said: "It's been a difficult start to the implementation of the Climate Change Act, but the Scottish government's package of new measures across different sectors such as energy efficiency, low carbon travel and district heating looks promising."
You can watch the statement live on the BBC's Democracy Live website.You can watch the statement live on the BBC's Democracy Live website.