CLIMATE CHANGE TOO IMPORTANT FOR POLITICAL BIDDING WAR.

CLIMATE CHANGE TOO IMPORTANT FOR POLITICAL BIDDING WAR.

TARGETS MUST BE BASED ON SCIENCE NOT “POLITICAL POINT SCORING.

The Scottish Government will next week be urged by SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville to seek independent advice on its interim climate change targets and the target for cumulative emissions as the Parliament votes on world leading Climate Change legislation.

Ms Somerville also criticised Iain Gray’s actions at First Minister’s Questions which directly contradict the approach of Labour members in Committee where Des McNulty called for the targets to be based on scientific advice not “political point scoring”.

SNP MSP Shirley–Anne Somerville has today lodged amendments which as well as supporting the Scottish Government in including an interim target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions by 34% by 2020 in the bill, with the provision to rise to 42% if the EU agrees to higher targets, will require the Government to seek independent advice from the UK Committee on Climate Change and if a higher target is recommended, either adopt the target in legislation or explain to Parliament its decision.

Lodging the amendments earlier today Ms Somerville said;

“Climate Change must not be the subject of a political bidding war – the targets we set must be both realistic and credible, as well as ambitious.

“That’s why any decision to move to higher targets must be based on the independent advice of the Committee on Climate Change not on the whims of politicians.

“It is disappointing that after acknowledging in Committee that “political point scoring” is not the way to address Climate Change Labour members have now abandoned that principal for political games

“The amendments I am introducing will take us back to scientific principals ensuring that the option of raising these targets is considered and considered properly – not in a political bidding war – but by people with real expertise who can consider both what is needed and what can be achieved.

“That is what everyone with an interest in seeing real action to combat climate change should be focussed on.

“The Scottish Government’s climate change legislation is the most ambitious in the world with a 34% target for 2020 and with the ability, in legislation, to raise the target to 42% if the EU agrees to set higher targets on measures to tackle Climate Change.

“Scotland will be the only country in the world to monitor and report on all the carbon we use, not just what we produce. We will be the only country to have a 42% target in legislation and we will be the first country to establish serious legal efforts to tackle climate change.

“Similarly I am lodging an amendment on cumulative emissions, to again ensure we are heeding the advice of experts to ensure Scotland’s Climate Change bill meets Scotland’s ambitions.

“Scotland’s Climate Change legislation will put Scotland at the forefront of global efforts to secure our future, with our world leading legislation and I hope members will support the experts and avoid political point scoring with our future.”

MORE INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS OFFICIAL SNP PRFESS RELEASE.

1. Speaking in Stage Two of the Climate Change Bill (26^th May 2009) Labour member Des McNulty stated
“My attitude to the Government's amendments and those in Alison McInnes's name is to ask whether they will take us to the right place, which is not that the committee should pick a percentage for Scotland but that we should pose to the relevant advisory body the right question—what is the most that we can do to make the bill as strong as it can be? We should make the figure that that body provides our target. That is the approach that I would like us to take. I am interested in taking that approach on a cross-party basis and in hearing colleagues' opinions about how we would best achieve it. The target is not a subject for political point scoring; our objective in the bill should be the highest level that is consistent with what is achievable. I hope that everybody will work together constructively to achieve that end.

2. Ms Somerville’s amendments are below;

After section 2A, insert—

<Advice on the interim target

(1) The Scottish Ministers must, as soon as reasonably practicable and, in any event, before laying a draft of a statutory instrument containing the first order under section 4(1) before the Scottish Parliament, request advice from the relevant body on what interim target that body considers is appropriate.

(2) The Scottish Ministers must publish the advice requested under subsection (1) as soon as reasonably practicable after they receive it.

(3) The Scottish Ministers must have regard to that advice and, if they consider it appropriate to do so, lay a draft of a statutory instrument containing an order under section 2A(1) before the Scottish Parliament.

(4) If—

(a) the relevant body recommends that the interim target should be a higher percentage figure than the one for the time being mentioned in section 2(1); and

(b) the Scottish Ministers do not consider that figure is appropriate, the Scottish Ministers must lay before the Scottish Parliament a report setting out the reasons why.

(5) The Scottish Ministers must, as soon as reasonably practicable after laying a report before the Scottish Parliament under subsection (4), and in so far as reasonably practicable, make a statement to the Parliament relating to the report.>

In section 4, page 3, line 9, at end insert—

<( ) The Scottish Ministers must, when setting annual targets, have regard to any advice they receive from the relevant body as to the cumulative amount of net Scottish emissions for the period 2010-2050 that is consistent with a reduction over that period of net Scottish emissions accounts which would allow the 2050 target to be met.>