10 February 2009
Scottish Climate Bill must include aviation to retain credibility
Scottish sustainable transport alliance to give evidence to Parliament on proposed legislation
Transform Scotland [1] today (Tuesday 10th) called for the Scottish Climate Change Bill to include international aviation. The call came in advance of the national sustainable transport alliance's evidence session in front of the Scottish Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee. [3]
Paul Tetlaw, Chair of Transform Scotland, said:
“The Scottish climate bill as currently drafted gives an opt-out for international aviation and shipping. Given the rapid increase in emissions from the aviation sector, the absence of aviation emissions would damage the credibility of the Bill.
"The current draft of the bill does allow Scottish Ministers to include international aviation and shipping but only at a later date. There is no good reason why they should not be counted now. The Government has an established methodology for counting these emissions and these figures are publicly available.
"John Swinney stated back in October that aviation emissions would be included in the Bill. [4] It is imperative that the Bill is changed so that aviation emissions are included from the start. Otherwise, the Scottish climate bill will be innately flawed."
Transform Scotland's view is that the Bill is generally welcome, but requires improvement if there is any chance of action being taken to reduce climate change emissions within Scotland by 80%. Specifically, we recommend:
* The Bill must set annual emission reduction targets of at least 3% from 2010
* The Bill must include International Aviation and Shipping from 2010
* The Bill must establish a duty on all public bodies to reduce emissions in line with the national targets
* The Bill must include mechanisms for enforcement of the emission reduction targets.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups - see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/our-members.aspx> for details.
[2] Transform Scotland is a member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland - <http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/scotland>.
[3] See <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/GetFile.aspx?ItemId=120> [PDF, 99 KB] for copy of our evidence paper submitted to the TICC Committee.
[4] Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney MSP said on 27th October 2008: “This Government has taken the bold decision to include emissions from international aviation and shipping within its targets. Scotland benefits greatly from international trade and travel and we believe it is right to take responsibility for the Scottish share of these emissions.” Scottish Government news release ‘Tackling climate change’, 27/10/08. <http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/10/27131648>.
END OF NEWS RELEASE