Climate Change update
As some of you may know, I'm the Liberal Democrats' spokesperson on Climate Change at Holyrood, and over the last few months have been leading the party's participation in discussions on the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill.
Since the Bill was published in December 2008, many of my constituents have contacted me asking for me to push for as strong a Bill as possible, to help ensure that Scotland plays its part in helping the world to fight climate change. As you are probably aware, the Parliament voted unanimously to pass the new law on June 24th 2009, and I thought it important to write a further note to keep all my constituents updated on the final contents of the Bill, and the work that we have still to do. I hope you will welcome the efforts that the party and I have made to strengthen the Bill, and I'd like to encourage you to get in touch with me if you have any questions or comments.
Dear Constituent,
I thought you would be interested in a brief update now that the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill has been passed into law by MSPs. Having led on the Bill for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, as climate change spokesperson, I am naturally delighted to see this vital piece of legislation finalised.
Throughout the parliamentary process my party colleagues and I have worked hard to ensure that the new law will contain credible and effective measures to tackle the impact of climate change through our actions here in Scotland.
At every stage of the Bill's passage the Liberal Democrats have led the campaign to include a clear-cut interim target of a 42 per cent cut in emissions by 2020, and we are pleased that target is now included on the face of the Bill. Serious concerns do remain, however, over the loophole introduced by Labour and the SNP that will allow the Government to reduce the target if it appears too challenging. It is now the responsibility of all parties to make every effort to ensure that the 42 per cent target is retained and reached, and the road to 80 per cent reductions by 2050 is not threatened.
I am very pleased the Liberal Democrats succeeded in winning parliamentary support for my amendments at Stage 3 which put a fair and safe limit on the total amount of emissions for the period until 2050. The inclusion of a cumulative emissions budget is a huge step in ensuring that our emission reduction targets are properly based on the science of what is needed, and will therefore truly make a difference.
We have, after much campaigning, seen the inclusion of sectoral targets in the legislation - helping to ensure that every part of Scotland's economy will be required to play a role in reducing emissions. We have also committed to including emissions from aviation and shipping within emissions accounts from the outset, a move that truly does set an example for the world to follow.
I was disappointed, however, that the SNP, Labour Party and Conservatives opposed our amendments at Stages 2 and 3 which would have introduced annual emissions reduction targets of at least 3 per cent. In the case of the SNP this was a direct reversal of their manifesto commitment and clearly goes against the view of the scientific community that early action will be vital in efforts to limit the damaging effects of climate change. The omission of this requirement from the face of the Bill must not be an excuse to allow any slippage in emissions reductions from the outset.
Of course, targets are not in themselves sufficient, and so we are determined that this Bill will now translate into effective action. Please be assured that Scottish Liberal Democrats are fully committed to ensuring that the Parliament recognises that further, continued action will be needed and that passing this law does not mark the end of our responsibility in tackling climate change.
As I have mentioned before, the sheer volume of constituents who have been in touch has only served to underline the importance of dealing with climate change, and has helped to reassure and encourage me that the position I have taken has been the right one. As always, I'd like to encourage you to get in touch if you wish to discuss anything that I have mentioned further, or if there is any other matter that I can be of assistance with.
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