THE publication of our new draft Climate Change Plan represents an
opportunity to build on the ambitious approach that has seen Scotland gain
recognition in the international community for its work reducing greenhouse
gas emissions.
Seven years ago the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the most
ambitious climate change legislation in the world and, more recently, by
exceeding our 2020 climate change targets and achieving a 42 per cent
reduction in emissions six years early, we cemented our reputation as world
leaders.
Our draft Climate Change Plan will build on this momentum by setting out
how Scotland can reduce emissions by 66 per cent by 2032, using 1990
emission levels as a baseline. The proposals show a new level of ambition
in our work to build a prosperous low carbon economy, and a fairer,
healthier Scotland.
This reduction takes us into transformational territory. Wide-ranging
changes in transport, buildings, heating, power and land use will help us
meet these targets.
By the 2030s we expect to see dramatic reductions in emissions from
buildings, both residential and non-domestic, through energy efficiency
measures and the decarbonisation of heat. In electricity generation we
expect to have almost entirely decarbonised by 2025, through a mix of
energy generation technologies. We will increasingly rely on electricity to
heat our homes and power vehicles.
Scottish households should save hundreds of millions of pounds on their
fuel bills over the lifetime of the plan and thousands of jobs will be
supported through the development of energy efficiency as well as renewable
heat services and technologies.
We will do all we can to make our shops, offices, schools and hospitals
warmer and easier to heat. If we can reduce energy demand we can help
businesses improve their energy productivity and competitiveness. This will
offer savings in the public sector for frontline services. Transport plays
a crucial role in tackling climate change.
Our draft plan sets out our vision for the transport sector to be
significantly decarbonised by 2032, with emissions dropping by one-third
compared to 2014. We want to see widespread low-emission cars and vans and
low-emission HGVs commonly on our roads.
We are committed to freeing our communities from harmful vehicle emissions
and will continue to invest in public transport and active travel and
low-carbon technologies like electric cars and vans, hybrid ferries, green
buses and the infrastructure they require.
Next year we will also introduce our first low-emission zone and we will
evaluate the more extensive use of such zones and associated changes to
freight logistics and public transport, as it’s important that we improve
air quality.
In agriculture, our draft plan sets out our ambition to be among the lowest
carbon and most efficient food producers in the world. We will support
farmers so they can cut their emissions and costs.
Enhancing our natural carbon sinks is critical. By 2030 we will have
restored 250,000 hectares of degraded peatlands against 1990 levels, an
improvement of valuable soils in around 20 per cent of our land mass. This
represents a significant change in our ambition and is fundamental for
biodiversity, water quality and enjoyment of our spectacular natural
environment. Also, we will increase our tree planting rates over time, up
to 15,000 hectares by 2024/25, with a view to having 21 per cent of the
Scottish land area in wood cover – an increase of around three per cent.
The transition to a low-carbon economy offers important opportunities,
thanks to our highly skilled workforce, the strength of our research
institutions and our natural resources. The Scottish Government’s ambitions
are clear, but we have reached a point where future progress will require
the support of individuals, organisations and businesses across the country.
The publication of our draft plan provides an important opportunity for
debate about the policies that should be implemented and the proposals to
be considered. That debate will help ensure the final version of the
Climate Change Plan provides a blueprint for a fairer, greener, more
prosperous nation.
Roseanna Cunningham is Cabinet Secretary for the Environment.
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