SCOTLAND'S CLIMATE BILL TO LEAD THE WORLD.

SCOTLAND'S CLIMATE BILL TO LEAD THE WORLD.

SCOTLAND TO BE FIRST COUNTRY TO REPORT CARBON CONSUMPTION

Scotland is to become the first country in the world with a legal requirement to report actual carbon consumption. Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP has today (Tuesday) moved an amendment to the Scottish Climate Change Bill to include a report on emissions from goods and services consumed in Scotland, in addition to those produced here.

The amendment had received support from the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and was agreed by the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee during its Stage 2 scrutiny of the Bill. This will make Scotland the first country with a legislative requirement to measure and report on consumption-based emissions

Ms Somerville said:

“This important amendment will ensure the Scottish Climate Change Bill is truly world leading.

“Measuring our consumption based emissions, not just those produced within our borders, will provide a clearer picture of our environmental impact. If goods and services are produced in China for consumption in Scotland, it’s only fair that we take some responsibility for those emissions.

"One example is the closure of the Ravenscraig steel mill in 1991. Scotland's emissions reduced considerably as a result, but Scotland's consumption of steel has actually increased since then through greater imports.

“Consumption reporting will improve public-decision making and provide a clearer measure of Scotland's Greenhouse Gas Footprint. It could also help safeguard jobs in Scotland as we work towards more sustainable consumption.

“The SNP Government has already made reducing our overall Ecological Footprint one of its key National Indicators of progress.

“Including consumption-reporting in the historic Climate Change Bill will further prove the Scottish Government's commitment to creating a greener future for Scotland, by making sure we drive down emissions, not just send them elsewhere.”