Ministers accused of ‘poor leadership’ after Bill to axe climate target backed

Ministers have been accused of years of “poor leadership” and inaction after MSPs voted for the general principles of a Bill that would axe a key emissions target.

The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill passed at stage one following a debate in Holyrood.

In the vote on Thursday, 94 backed the general principles of the Bill, none voted against and seven abstained.

The legislation was introduced after ministers announced they had abandoned a target of reducing emissions by 75% by 2030.

Sarah Boyack said the need for the legislation was ‘disappointing’ (Lesley Martin/PA). PA Media

The Government accepted in April the goal was “out of reach”, but because it was included in climate change legislation, ministers have had to bring forward a Bill to amend it.

Scottish Labour said the scrapping of the target follows years of failure on the environment.

Speaking during a Holyrood debate, Sarah Boyack said: “We are hugely disappointed that we have ended up needing this Bill.

“We put it down to the fact that we have had poor environmental leadership over 17 years of the SNP’s time in government which has meant we have lost the opportunity to be a world leader on climate change.

“Our Parliament’s targets were ambitious and they were celebrated for being bold but the action by the Scottish Government has not matched the ambitions in both the climate acts.”

She said the planet cannot afford inaction.

The Scottish Government has missed eight of the last 12 annual targets to lower emissions.

Scottish Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden warned that the legislation will “mean nothing if the Scottish Government does not follow it up with action”.

He added: “We know the Scottish Government has failed to meet its climate change targets, has failed to address the challenges we are facing and has failed to set out a clear plan on how together we can achieve net zero.”

Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell said the Bill “must result in a reset in climate ambitions”.

He told MSPs: “We cannot ignore the need for the Government to take unprecedented action to tackle the climate emergency.

“Action is what Greens need to see if we are to give this Bill our full support.”

Net Zero and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said Scotland still leads the way on the climate (Andrew Milligan/PA) PA Media

Scotland’s Net Zero and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said while her Government had been “laudable” in its climate goals, she admitted they were “unrealistic”.

But she said she remained committed to the ultimate goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

As well as amending the 2019 legislation, the Bill will see Scotland move to a five-year cycle of carbon budgeting, instead of aiming to reduce emissions by a certain proportion by a set time, while still retaining the ultimate target of reaching net zero by 2045.

“These budgets, based on the advice of experts, represent our best path towards net zero,” Ms Martin said.

She said the Scottish Government “continues to lead the way in the journey to net zero” and added that “resolute action on net zero will not change”.

She added: “Scotland continues to be at the forefront of climate action. I truly believe the people of Scotland share a drive to achieve net zero ambitions and protect future generations.”