Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 07 December 2011
07 Dec 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Parliamentary Bureau Motions
The Scottish Government—and, I believe, the rest of the members of this Parliament—are proud of the ambitious climate change targets that we have collectively set. Meeting those targets will be challenging, but we remain absolutely committed to doing so, and we are on track to do so.
The spending review sets out this Government’s plans to invest more than £690 million in a wide range of measures that will help to drive the low-carbon transition. That significant investment supports the Government’s strategic priority to secure Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon economy. As well as cutting emissions, that will help to give Scotland a competitive edge in global green industries and will be central to maximising our sustainable economic growth.
We plan to meet all our annual emissions targets through domestic action rather than by offsetting emissions through the use of carbon units. However, in an uncertain world it is only sensible that we accept the advice of the independent Committee on Climate Change that we should allow ourselves the flexibility to use carbon units for the period 2013 to 2017 up to the 20 per cent limit that is prescribed in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. That means, for example, that with annual targets to reduce emissions by 3 per cent between years, ministers could use carbon units equating only to 20 per cent of that 3 per cent, which is only 0.6 per cent of the total amount of emissions allowed in a target year.
I hope that members will agree that, far from enabling ministers to buy their way out of trouble whenever targets become tight, the draft order that we are debating simply avoids ruling out the use of carbon units if the circumstances should ever present themselves, which I hope they do not. It is a very small contingency measure. [Interruption.]
I reassure members that we recognise and acknowledge the concerns regarding the quality and provenance of carbon credits that have been raised in some quarters. The further legislation that we plan to bring forward next year will set out which internationally recognised carbon units may potentially be purchased, and will ensure that those units represent genuine emissions savings.
On checking the record, I noted that Robin Harper of the Green party supported a 20 per cent limit when the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill was before the Parliament. Principles are good things, and I urge the Green party to stick to theirs.
The spending review sets out this Government’s plans to invest more than £690 million in a wide range of measures that will help to drive the low-carbon transition. That significant investment supports the Government’s strategic priority to secure Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon economy. As well as cutting emissions, that will help to give Scotland a competitive edge in global green industries and will be central to maximising our sustainable economic growth.
We plan to meet all our annual emissions targets through domestic action rather than by offsetting emissions through the use of carbon units. However, in an uncertain world it is only sensible that we accept the advice of the independent Committee on Climate Change that we should allow ourselves the flexibility to use carbon units for the period 2013 to 2017 up to the 20 per cent limit that is prescribed in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. That means, for example, that with annual targets to reduce emissions by 3 per cent between years, ministers could use carbon units equating only to 20 per cent of that 3 per cent, which is only 0.6 per cent of the total amount of emissions allowed in a target year.
I hope that members will agree that, far from enabling ministers to buy their way out of trouble whenever targets become tight, the draft order that we are debating simply avoids ruling out the use of carbon units if the circumstances should ever present themselves, which I hope they do not. It is a very small contingency measure. [Interruption.]
I reassure members that we recognise and acknowledge the concerns regarding the quality and provenance of carbon credits that have been raised in some quarters. The further legislation that we plan to bring forward next year will set out which internationally recognised carbon units may potentially be purchased, and will ensure that those units represent genuine emissions savings.
On checking the record, I noted that Robin Harper of the Green party supported a 20 per cent limit when the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill was before the Parliament. Principles are good things, and I urge the Green party to stick to theirs.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is consideration of two Parliamentary Bureau motions. I call Bruce Crawford to move motion S4M-01519, on the designation of a lead ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The question on the motion will be put at decision time.I ask Bruce Crawford to move motion S4M-01520, on the approval of a Scottish statutory instrument, th...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Alison Johnstone has indicated that she wishes to speak against the motion. Ms Johnstone, you have three minutes.17:42
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I will not take that long. Scotland has committed itself to ambitious climate targets, with 80 per cent emission reductions by 2050. The Greens believe that ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
The Scottish Government—and, I believe, the rest of the members of this Parliament—are proud of the ambitious climate change targets that we have collectivel...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I regret that Mr Lochhead’s contribution was interrupted by a mobile phone. I remind all members that when they come in to the chamber, their phones should b...