Thank you to all our Scottish supporters who lobbied their MSPs to improve the Scottish Climate Change Bill. The Scottish parliament has now voted to cut the nation’s carbon emissions by 42% by 2020, making it the world’s strongest climate change legislation.
On Wednesday 24 June, MSPs at Holyrood voted for legislation that commits Scotland to:
at least an 80% cut in emissions (on 1990 levels) by 2050;
a 2020 target to reduce emissions by 42%;
include the full effects of emissions from international aviation and shipping from the start;
a strong duty on all public bodies to make a full contribution to tackling climate change and
reporting on emissions from goods consumed in Scotland but made overseas.
Christian Aid, as a member of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, has been campaigning for a tough climate bill for more than a year.
Una Bartley, Christian Aid’s policy and parliamentary officer said: ‘MSPs from all parties listened to the thousands of Scots, including many Christian Aid supporters, who campaigned for a strong climate change bill.
‘By committing Scotland to reduce its emissions by 42% by 2020, the bill can be held up as a positive example to the rest of the world.
‘The passing of the bill - coming ahead of climate talks in Copenhagen in December - is very timely, sending a signal to developing countries of what can be achieved in industrialised countries with the right political will.’