CLIMATE CHANGE BILL WILL NOT DELIVER WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN - McINNES

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 21st Jun 2009

Alison McInnes MSP, Liberal Democrat Climate Change spokesperson, has hit out at the Scottish Government for presenting a Climate Change Bill to Parliament that 'will not deliver what it says on the tin'.

The Climate Change Bill will be debated and voted upon on Wednesday but Mrs McInnes believes that an opportunity has been missed. Instead of Scotland leading the charge against climate change, the Scottish Government have adopted a "wait and see" attitude.

Commenting, Mrs McInnes said:

"The Bill as it stands simply will not deliver what it says on the tin.

"Alex Salmond has boasted about this being world leading legislation that would showcase Scotland's potential to be a catalyst to curb climate change. Unsurprisingly this ambition has been replaced by ambiguity and a series of empty promises that have no chance of effectively influencing our global partners.

"In order to reach the target of reducing greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050 it is vital to have strong, scientifically credible interim targets in place.

"Liberal Democrats have pushed for a 42% reduction by 2020. Adopting this target would have put Scotland at the forefront of measures to cut harmful emissions.

"However, the Bill only sets out a 2020 target of 34%. Rather than leading the charge against climate change the Scottish Government have adopted a "wait and see" attitude.

"Labour is talking tough, but the time for rhetoric is over. Labour Members could have insisted on tougher interim targets at Committee stage but opted to vote for watered-down and weakened measures.

"There is still time to save the Bill from its shortcomings. I have tabled amendments to ensure that Scotland has workable, tough and effective climate change legislation.

"If other parties are serious about tackling global warming then they should stop posturing and move toward effective action by backing Liberal Democrat proposals on Wednesday."