Sign up to E-NewsArnold Schwarzenegger congratulates Scotland on our 'ambitious' climate change bill
After over 2 years of hard campaigning, the Scottish Parliament has finally passed the Scottish Climate Change Bill. The result is a very strong bill that puts in place a framework for Scotland’s transition to a low carbon economy. In particular, the target of 42% cuts in emissions by 2020 is significant as the toughest statutory target in the industrialised world, and sets a precedent ahead of the international climate change talks in Copenhagen.
The target immediately sparked interest internationally, as world leaders and celebrities sent their congratulations. Speaking shortly after the Climate Change Bill was voted on for the final time at the Scottish Parliament Schwarzenegger said:
‘Scotland’s ambitious and comprehensive targets encourage other nations to step up to the plate as we look toward an international agreement in Copenhagen, and it sends a message to the world that we must act now and act swiftly’
The final bill includes:
- Target of 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on 1990 levels by 2050
- Target of 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emission on 1990 levels by 2020
- Scotland’s share of international shipping and aviation to be included in reporting (as well as a multiplier to account for the extra impact that aviation has at altitude
It also includes:
- a strong duty on all public bodies to make a full contribution to tackling climate change
- strong energy efficiency measures to tackle fuel poverty and save energy
A big thank you to all the WDM campaigners who have worked tirelessly on alongside other Stop Climate Chaos Scotland members to help ensure this world-leading bill.
pic: mass lobby of parliament organised by SCCS on the final day of the bill
What next?
Now that we have a strong framework in place, we need to ensure that the Scottish Government puts in place the policies to make a low carbon economy a reality. This will include flagging up policies and developments – such as new build coal-fired power stations – that, if they are given the go-ahead, would make our ambitious targets impossible to reach.
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Saturday 5th December, Glasgow
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