Climate Change Bill
Fri., December 05, 2008. 13:04.
Greens set out six key changes to Climate Change Bill
The Scottish Government today published its long-awaited draft Climate Change Bill. (1) The Scottish Greens welcomed the proposals, which are significantly better than the initial proposals set out by Ministers, but the party also set out six key areas where Parliament should act to strengthen the proposals. Greens plan to work with other parties, including the SNP where possible, to amend the Bill in these areas.
i. Accountability. The Bill currently contains no consequences for Ministers who miss their targets. Given that they are responsible for their success or failure, Ministers need to know what will happen if they fail. (2)
ii. Urgency. The current proposal for annual targets suggests a very relaxed start, with very low reductions in emissions until 2020. Earlier shifts will make the biggest difference to Scotland's overall contribution to climate change and provide better opportunities to gain the competitive advantages a low carbon economy will bring. A stronger start is therefore needed. (3)
iii. Domestic action. The draft Bill contains no limit set on the proportion of Scotland's emissions reductions which can be "bought in" through international credits. It is vital that all or almost all of these reductions are actually achieved here in Scotland. Support for emissions reductions in developing countries is vitally important, but it not a substitute for putting our own house in order. (4)
iv. Scientific independence. The Bill proposes to use the UK Climate Change Committee to provide scientific advice, and to allow Ministers to create a Scottish version if they see fit. However, the Scottish Committee would, if the Bill is unamended, be appointed by Scottish Ministers, not Parliament, which reduces its independence and credibility, not least because Ministers do not always have a working majority in Parliament. (5)
v. Scale. The Bill proposes a long term 2050 target of 80% reductions in Scotland's emissions, but the evidence from the internationally-respected Tyndall Centre and others is that a 90% reduction will be required over this same period. (6)
vi. Policy shift. The Scottish Government's policies as currently designed will aggravate climate change, especially in the areas of transport, energy and demand reduction. Ministers cannot promote airport expansion and a massive road-building programme and simultaneously deliver a credible policy on climate change. The Bill does move towards discussion of the implications for each sector of the economy, but does not mandate sector by sector targets and an action plan to deliver them. (7)
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
"This Bill is a very worthwhile starting point, but though there are still too many loopholes and too much vague language. During 2009 we will see whether Parliament can rise to the challenge and build on this proposal. I believe it can be the foundation for the most effective legislation yet delivered on climate change anywhere in the world, but it still needs a lot of work.
"Ministers have proposed a framework for binding annual emissions targets all the way through to 2050, which is vital. However, it makes no sense whatsoever to bring in reductions of at least 3% a year from 2020 onwards, while permitting the smallest imaginable reductions during the eleven years before that. Even the SNP manifesto last year committed them to making annual reductions of 3% straight away, while we believe the science shows that reductions of nearer 4.5% will be needed for Scotland to play its part.
"Greens welcome the shift Ministers have made to include aviation and shipping, as well as the progress made so far on a Scottish Committee to monitor and advise on future targets. Although the SNP have edged a little closer to proper sector-by-sector targets for reductions, this part of the Bill is still far too vague. Whatever the legislation says in the end, though, the bottom line remains the need for policy change. If the SNP force through expansion of airports and ever more motorways, history will remember those decisions, not this Bill."
On the urgency and scale of the cuts, the Scottish Government's own Council of Economic Advisers issued the following warning on this issue today:
"To reduce emissions by 80% will require an annual rate of reduction averaging more than 3%. The reduction likely to be achieved by 2011 is not sufficient to put Scotland on that downward trajectory. Moreover, without the prospect of further major shifts in the structure of the Scottish economy, even this pace of change will be harder to achieve in future."
Notes
1. See: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/17-ClimateChange/b17s3-introd.pdf
2. See Section 31, which merely requires Ministers to submit a further report.
3. See Section 3 (2).
4. Section 12 discusses carbon units and the ways they can be used to offset other emissions.
5. See Schedule 1, Section 2 (3).
6. See Section 1 (1).
7. See Section 30.
8. See their report, published today, paragraph 4.4: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/252027/0073770.pdf
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.