Committee
Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee 22 February 2011
22 Feb 2011 · S3 · Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee
Item of business
“Public Bodies Climate Change Duties: Putting Them Into Practice” and “A Low Carbon Economic Strategy for Scotland”
Indeed I can. Coincidentally, I met the EU commissioner who is responsible for dealing with climate change a couple of weeks ago, and that was the precise area that I wished to talk to her about. We are very much pressing the EU to stick to the 30 per cent commitment, or at least to move towards it. We are impressing on the commissioner that although we are trying to take ambitious action, it cannot just be about us. You are right: a lot of it is not in our gift, and we need both the UK and the EU to step up in the same ambitious way.14:30 The point that I made to the commissioner was that the low-carbon economic strategy presents huge opportunities for growth and investment. There is a huge opportunity for countries to seize, and we are trying to do that. She was certainly interested. It is interesting that when we meet EU commissioners—I had a separate meeting with another commissioner afterwards—they immediately assume that we are coming to ask for money. In neither of those meetings did I do that, so we started off on a good foot.The commissioner followed up our lobby, if you like, with a request for more detail about what we are doing in Scotland. She said that one reason why the EU’s 30 per cent move might be difficult is that many countries believe that it would hurt them economically and strike at jobs. I was able to say, “You need to say to them that that is not the view in all parts of Europe, and that there are places, such as Scotland, where people take a completely different view.” She asked for a good deal more information, and we are in the process of drafting a letter on that basis.The issue is enormous. We want to maintain the pressure on the EU to go to the maximum possible level and not to slide back. We are also maintaining our pressure at the UK level. As I mentioned, I have already met the convener of the UK Committee on Climate Change. There is now constant dialogue at the UK, EU and Scottish Government levels, and there is an enormous amount of interest on the part of the UK and the EU in how we believe we can deliver on our targets, because our positive achievements will help them in their arguments elsewhere. However, I do not want to pretend that it is not going to be quite a battle at the EU level. Some significant member states are of the view that moving to 30 per cent would cause too much harm economically for them to want to sign up to it.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Green
The next item gives us an opportunity to take evidence from the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Roseanna Cunningham, on two documents: “Public B...
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Roseanna Cunningham)
SNP
Thank you for the invitation, convener. Because we are covering two documents, my remarks are a minute or two longer than the five minutes that I would norma...
The Convener
Green
That is fine. Thank you, minister. Let us set the scene a little further. You mentioned the decarbonisation of electricity generation in your remarks on the ...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
Renewable heat capacity is about 1.4 per cent of generation—we are coming from a good bit further back in some areas. That figure will be updated by the end ...
The Convener
Green
Notwithstanding the recession, emissions from road transport have increased. The issue is not just about suddenly convincing everybody that electric vehicles...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I do not suppose that we can afford to wait until every car is electric. In any case, that will probably never happen, because it would be impractical in big...
The Convener
Green
I presume that the Government still intends to try to achieve its target without harder demand-management measures.14:15
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
As you know, our current intention is to try to achieve as much as we can by taking people with us voluntarily. However, if at some point in the future we de...
The Convener
Green
What is your response to the view expressed by the Sustainable Development Commission in its most recent assessment report that the Government could be doing...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
First, we have to remind ourselves that the strategy is not a once-and-for-all document that is written in concrete for ever and anon. It will be a dynamic p...
Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con)
Con
I have a follow-up question on the point that you made about motor vehicles. Obviously, the more quickly that we can move towards having a large percentage o...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I hesitate to tiptoe into the portfolio area of one of my colleagues. I indicated that a low-carbon vehicle action plan was about to be published, but that i...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab)
Lab
I will explore issues around investment. The low-carbon economic strategy highlights the significant challenge of the funding that is required to develop low...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
We have recently announced the £70 million national renewables infrastructure fund, which is one of the big commitments that we are making.When we talk about...
Cathy Peattie
Lab
Are you confident that we can move forward? Will the 2020 group help to facilitate the partnership between Government and the private sector?
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
Yes. It is already doing precisely that. Shortly after I had a meeting with Ian Marchant from the 2020 group, I had a meeting in the same building with the c...
Cathy Peattie
Lab
I look forward to reading it when it comes out.I was going to develop some of those points but I think that you have answered some of my next questions.
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
Sorry.
Cathy Peattie
Lab
No, that is fine. I am happy that you have answered them.I am interested in how the Government can “influence the development of a new financial architecture...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
Some of what I have just said relates to that, particularly with regard to the conference and our desire to have it happen every single year. It is about cre...
Cathy Peattie
Lab
Did you find the conference helpful in developing that partnership for future investment?
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I was not at the conference myself, as it predated my current job. However, all the outcomes from it suggest to me that it was a positive exercise, which is ...
Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD)
LD
In reporting on the RPP, the committee expressed a concern that there could be delays in implementing some parts of it, as the Government is reliant in some ...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
Indeed I can. Coincidentally, I met the EU commissioner who is responsible for dealing with climate change a couple of weeks ago, and that was the precise ar...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
On that subject, there is a note in today’s Financial Times that Britain, Germany and Poland are not taking a full part in the trading scheme arrangements. I...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
I do not read the Financial Times on a regular basis. I certainly know that Poland is one of the countries where there is considerable scepticism. I would be...
Rob Gibson
SNP
It was Germany.
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
Sorry, I meant Britain and Germany. I would be surprised if Britain was being a little more negative than I would have hoped. We will continue to press the U...
Alison McInnes
LD
I am reassured by what I hear from the minister. You have explained the dialogue that takes place, particularly with the EU, and that is useful. Scotland can...
Roseanna Cunningham
SNP
Yes.