Achi news desk-
READ MORE: Transition to net zero at a ‘critical period’ in Scotland
Mair McAllan, the Cabinet Secretary whose brief includes net zero is due to update MSPs later today on the government’s response to a damning report which warned that key climate pledges were “no longer credible.”
The minister is widely expected to announce that the request to reduce carbon emissions by 75% by 2030 is now unattainable.
It is also expected that Ms McAllan will remove the annual targets.
However, the commitment to be fully net zero by 2045 will continue.
Speaking ahead of today’s announcement, Ms McAllan said Scotland was “half way to net zero.”
He also said that Scottish ministers are trying to deliver on climate change with “one hand tied behind our backs” due to the UK government’s financial mismanagement and “continued limitations of devolution.”
“This government is fully committed to tackling the climate crisis with the urgency and speed that is required.
“However, to do that we need a collective will and a common sense of priority. I call on all parties in the Scottish parliament to put politics aside, to reject culture wars, and to support our efforts.
“This is our joint mission in which we cannot fail.”
Speaking to X, Friends of the Earth said: “The @scotgov choosing to scrap its climate targets for 2030 would be the worst environmental decision in the history of the Scottish Parliament.
“The climate crisis calls for urgent action now – not broken promises. Over a decade has been wasted when Ministers could have been providing warm homes, reliable public transport and clear routes to green jobs.
“Instead the @scotgov has kept millions of people trapped in a broken situation.”
The @scotgov choosing to scrap its climate targets for 2030 would be the worst environmental decision in the history of the Scottish Parliament.
The climate crisis calls for urgent action now – not broken promises. pic.twitter.com/rZaLhiAyF3
— Friends of the Earth Scotland 🌎 (@FoEScot) April 17, 2024
Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said the decision was an “acute global embarrassment.”
“It would also be a direct and damaging consequence of the Scottish Government’s own unfettered efforts on climate action.
“Instead, ministers and MLAs from all parties in the Scottish Parliament should focus on securing the significant funding needed to invest now in faster climate action through fair tax reforms that protect those on their loss and motivate polluters to clean up their acts.
“Anything less and Scotland will deal yet another blow to climate-hit communities while risking a dangerous race to the bottom on global climate ambition.”
READ MORE: Consultant posts in NHS Scotland ‘doubled’
The interim targets are part of the Climate Change Act and therefore a positive decision is required at Holyrood in order to change them.
That should mean the amendment is likely to go to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport committee first, which can take evidence and call on ministers to answer questions.
The committee will then vote on it before going to the chamber where each MSP will have a vote.
That raises the possibility that Scottish Greens MLAs will be forced to back legislation that weakens a key climate target.
On Tuesday the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson made it clear that Humza Yousaf would expect all his ministers to support government business.
Last month, Mr Harvie suggested he could support weakening or scrapping the commitment, as long as other measures are put in place.
He told Scotland on Sunday that any “change to the framework” would need to bring “acceleration of action.”
He added: “We have had too many politicians supporting each other for world-leading targets while at the same time calling for more road building, more aviation growth and cheering to the rafters when oil exploration and new gas is announced.
“If any change is needed in any of the climate framework, it has to come with an accelerated climate action agenda.”
In their report, the ACW said that for Scotland to cut harmful emissions by 75% within six years, the rate of emissions reduction in most sectors would need to increase by a factor of nine.
He said: “The acceleration required in reducing emissions to meet the 2030 target is now beyond belief.”
The CCC also noted that the publication of a new draft version of Scotland’s Climate Change Plan, which was due in late 2023, had been “delayed”.
He said that meant there was “no comprehensive delivery strategy for meeting future emissions targets” and the “current overall policies and plans The transition to net zero is at the ‘critical stage’ in Scotland in Scotland far below what is required to meet the legal targets under the Scottish Climate Change Act”.
READ MORE: He urged the Greens to use influence on the SNP to prevent eco targets from being scrapped
Scottish Conservative shadow secretary for net zero, energy and transport Douglas Lumsden said: “If this report is correct, it is tantamount to humiliating the SNP-Green Government.
“For all the bragging about their supposed environmental merits, the reality is a series of failed targets – and being forced to throw in the towel on this flagship promise represents the biggest failure of the lot.
“This downward spiral is not surprising, given the damning report from the Committee on Climate Change, but it is symptomatic of a nationalist coalition that consistently over-promises and under-delivers.
“Mairi McAllan must be weighing the thought of presenting this statement after her absurd claim that world leaders are looking for advice from the Scottish Government on meeting environmental targets.”
Scottish Greens climate spokesman Mark Ruskell said: “We are absolutely determined to speed up the urgent and significant action needed to tackle the climate crisis as recently identified by the ACW, and we fully expect for the Scottish Government to respond to that challenge.
“This is a critical moment for us to scale up the kind of meaningful change that will put us on track to achieve net zero by 2045 at the latest, in the face of a complete reversal of climate action by the UK Government.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Cabinet Secretary for Economic Wellbeing, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan will make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the Scottish Climate Change Committee’s Report: Next Steps on Thursday 18 April.”
