The Scottish government has scrapped its flagship target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% of 1990 levels by 2030.
Màiri McAllan, cabinet secretary for wellbeing economy, net zero and energy, announced on 18 April that the government remains ‘steadfastly’ committed to its target for Scotland to be net zero by 2045, five years ahead of the UK as a whole. However, responding to a recent Climate Change Committee (CCC) progress report on Scotland’s carbon-reduction plans, the minister said the Scottish government accepted the watchdog’s verdict that the 2030 target is ‘out of reach’. The CCC report describes the acceleration required to meet the 2030 target as ‘beyond credible’.
McAllan said the Scottish government will expedite new legislation to introduce five-yearly carbon budgets, such as those that the UK government has in place.
Dave Pearson, Royal Academy of Engineering visiting professor at Edinburgh Napier University, urged the Scottish government to pass, by the end of 2025, its Heat in Buildings Bill, which contains tough new energy efficiency and low carbon standards. The Passivhaus Trust also wants the Scottish government to resist pressure from housebuilders to water down its proposals to introduce a Passivhaus Equivalent Standard, which the Trust says would cut heating demand in Scottish new-build homes by up to 79%.
