A number of key recommendations on the Scottish Government's Draft Climate Change Plan (CCP) have been outlined by four parliamentary committees.
As well as calling for ambitious policies and proposals across all sectors, Ministers stated more detail is required for the final CCP, which sets out the country's approach to cutting emissions over the next 15 years.
Some key concerns raised by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee include an uneven approach taken to tackle emissions across various sectors.
While the transport and agriculture sectors are the biggest contributors to harmful emissions, their targets are weaker when compared to other sectors.
Graeme Dey, Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee Convener, said: "Our Committee feels that it is crucial for all of Scotland's sectors to play their part in reducing emissions. Specifically transport and agriculture – which are the biggest contributors in terms of creating harmful carbon emissions – must, in the opinion of the committee, be required to make a greater contribution in tackling climate change.
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"In order for Scotland to truly be a world leader, the Scottish Government needs to ensure all sectors are equally challenged in creating a climate-friendly, low-carbon Scotland."
In addition, Mr Dey said the Committee is "disappointed" over the lack of detailed information in the draft plan and called for more data to be gathered around specific measures set out in the CCP.
"Not only will this allow for proper scrutiny, it will also help the Scottish Parliament to hold the Government to account on progress in years to come," he said.
Issues highlighted by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee include:
• The Scottish Government should adopt equally challenging policies and proposals across all sectors, which reflect the wider benefits of climate change actions and should be supported by behavioural change research
• The Committee plans to review the final Climate Change Plan. Given timing issues identified by stakeholders and various committees, it encourages the Scottish Government to prioritise this scrutiny process. More detail should be given on emissions reductions across all sectors and the necessary action should be specific, clear and transparent in the final plan
• The final plan should have a “Plan B” option if the assumptions for carbon capture and storage are not realised
• The monitoring and evaluation framework is crucial and the Scottish Parliament should be involved in the development and scrutiny of this
Mr Dey concluded: "Not enough emphasis appears to have been placed upon improving everyday habits in order to combat climate change. We believe this is a missed opportunity. That's why we've recommended that the science of behaviour change should be included in the final plan, in order to empower the Scottish public to make lifestyle changes that can make a huge difference."
(LM/CD)
