WORLD FIRST FOR BUDGET WITH CARBON ASSESSMENT

WORLD FIRST FOR BUDGET WITH CARBON ASSESSMENT

FIRST STEPS TO MEASURING CARBON IMPACT

Scotland today achieved a world first with a carbon assessment of the Scottish Government’s budget – a key commitment of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Act.

SNP MSP and Climate Change Committee member Shirley-Anne Somerville welcomed today's publication as a first step toward assessing the carbon consequences of the Scottish Government’s spending plans.

Ms Somerville said:

“Scotland has put itself at the forefront of tackling climate change with a world leading climate change Act and now the first steps to real carbon assessment of Government spending.

“Significantly this carbon assessment measures both carbon emissions generated in Scotland but also those coming from imports.

“Alongside the budget investment in renewable energy to support the development of the North Sea Grid, the use of micro-regeneration and the development of new renewable technology this is a budget that demonstrates the Scottish Government’s commitment to meet Scotland’s climate change challenge.

“This is a bold and welcome initiative from the Scottish Government and shows Scotland to leading international efforts to cut carbon use and to reduce climate change.”