Scotland has set a target to reduce carbon emissions by 42% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050.
Stewart Stevenson, climate change minister of Scotland, said: “Achieving the necessary reductions in emissions will require hard decisions, not only by governments but also by businesses, the public sector, voluntary and community groups, and individuals.
“The committee’s advice is a significant piece of work that Ministers will consider in full. It will play a key role in informing secondary legislation that we will bring forward in April on annual targets, aviation and shipping and limiting the use of carbon units.
“The Scottish Government will continue to engage with our partners in the international community, EU and UK and hope that they will increase their ambition to meet the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change.”
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires Scottish Ministers to request advice from the Committee on Climate Change on a range of issues including: the highest achievable target for 2020, the appropriate level of annual targets for 2010-22, the appropriate limit on the use of carbon units; and the methodology for inclusion of Scotland’s share of international aviation and international shipping emissions.
