The Scottish Government has acknowledged that its target of achieving Net Zero by 2030 is no longer feasible and has pushed the target date back to 2045.

In a statement delivered to the Scottish Parliament by Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan on Thursday 18 April 2024, she said:

“Presiding Officer, the race to net zero is one that we must all win and I want to begin by affirming this Government’s unwavering commitment to ending our contribution to global emissions by 2045 at the latest, as agreed by Parliament on a cross-party basis.

“I was grateful for the latest report from the Climate Change Committee on our progress in reducing emissions. The CCC are a key partner in our net zero journey and their insights are essential.”

The announcement follows the publication in March of a prgress report on reducing emissions in Scotland by the CCC that the required acceleration in emissions reduction in Scotland was now "beyond what is credible."

"Full delivery of plans contingent on UK Government reversing 9% cut to our capital budget"

The Net Zero Minister told the Scottish Parliament: 

“The Climate Change Committee is clear that “The UK is already substantially off track for 2030” and achieving future UK carbon budgets “will require sustained increase in the pace and breadth of decarbonisation across most major sectors”. Indeed, we do see climate backtracking at UK level.

“With severe budgetary restrictions imposed by the UK Government and under the continuing constraints of devolution, we are trying to deliver societal and economic transformation with one hand tied behind our back.

“Indeed, such is the UK Government’s unprecedent economic mismanagement, full delivery of our plans will be contingent on the UK Government reversing the 9% cut to our capital budget.

“This Government and Parliament, we rightly have high ambitions,and it is beyond doubt that investing now in net zero is the right thing for our environment, our society and our economy. But we are being held back.

“So I am asking MSPs across the chamber to work with us to call on the UK Government to reverse Scotland’s capital cut.”

Climate Change Committee says Scotland’s 2030 climate goals are no longer credible

On 20 March the CCC said that ontinued delays to the updated climate change plan and further slippage in promised climate policies mean that the Climate Change Committee no longer believes that the Scottish Government will meet its statutory 2030 goal to reduce emissions by 75%. There is no comprehensive strategy for Scotland to decarbonise towards Net Zero.

The Scottish Government delayed its draft Climate Change Plan last year despite the 2030 target only being six years away. This has left a significant period without sufficient actions or policies to reach the target; the required acceleration in emissions reduction in Scotland is now beyond what is credible.

“Scotland has laudable ambitions to decarbonise, but it isn’t enough to set a target; the Government must act. There are risks in all reviewed areas, including those with significant policy powers devolved to the Scottish Government.

“Scotland’s Climate Change Plan needs to be published urgently, so we can assess it. We need to see actions that will deliver on its future targets.”

Professor Piers Forster, interim Chair of the Climate Change Committee commented:

Scotland missed its annual target for 2021. This is the eighth time in the past 12 years that they have missed a target. The only sectors to reduce emissions in 2021 were electricity supply and industry. Most key indicators of delivery progress, such as tree planting, peatland restoration rates and heat pump installations are off track...

"On woodland creation, Scotland needs to double its recent rate. On peatland restoration a tripling of Scotland’s rate is required to reach its own target, which remains less ambitious than the CCC’s."

Scotland's emissions were 41.6 MtCO2e in 2021, based on the 1990-2021 inventory. This is a 2.4% increase since 2020 but remains 10.0% below pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Emissions in 2021 were 49.2% lower than levels in 1990. This represents a higher reduction in emissions compared to the UK, where 2021 emissions were 47.2% below 1990 levels.

Only three of the 14 key recommendations from the CCC’s 2022 Scottish Progress Report scored ‘good progress’. Two scored ‘moderate progress’, seven scored ‘some but insufficient progress’, and two made ‘no progress’ at all.

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