Further to our report of December 9 2008, Scottish parliamentarians have signed into law the world’s toughest climate regulations. The landmark legislation includes binding goals to cut greenhouse gases by 42% by 2020 from 1990 levels, which knocks Germany into second place in the race to set the most ambitious GHG reduction targets. Scotland’s bill does, however, hold an option to delay meeting these ambitious targets if the road to Copenhagen turns into a dead end. The Scottish bill is comprehensive and even includes steps to curb shipping and aviation emissions.
Environmental campaigners are thrilled by Scotland’s initiative which comes just days after they denounced targets set by Russia and Japan. “At least one nation is prepared to aim for climate legislation that follows the science,” said Kim Carstensen, Head of the Global Climate Initiative of the WWF International. (Source: Reuters, June 24, 2009)
Contact: Stewart Stevenson, MSP, Climate Change Minister, Scottish Parliament, +44 (0) 177 947-0444, [email protected], Web site; Kim Carstensen, Leader of WWF Global Climate Initiative, +45 (35) 24-7860, [email protected], www.panda.org