Scotland set to ditch significant climate change target

The disappointment around the lack of definitive measures for Scotland to stick to its climate targets have rippled throughout the UK. Former First Minister for Scotland Nicola Sturgeon had previously made claims that Scotland had “the most stretching targets in the world”. However, these targets have now had to be postponed, in light of the lack of feasibility for the Scottish Government to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030. The country has an overall target of reaching “Net Zero” Carbon emissions by 2045. Scotland currently has one of the most ambitious legislative frameworks for emissions reduction in the world and is often praised on a global stage for its initiatives.

However, as of 2022, Scotland lost its lead over the rest of the UK in tackling the issue and this further setback certainly has not helped. In March, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) in Scotland, who advise ministers on policy, stated for the first time that the 2030 goal would not be possible. A total of eight out of 12 of the Scottish government’s environmental targets for the decade have already been missed, diminishing the chance of success for their 2030 climate target to a point where it would no longer be viable.

The country has experienced a notable wave of protest after what people feel is a significant failing by the current SNP government

By 2021, the country had reduced its emissions by 49.9%, in reference to a baseline set in 1990. However, in order to stay on target the country would have had to reduce its emissions by 51.1% the same year. In the wake of the findings, the country has experienced a notable wave of protest after what people feel is a significant failing by the current SNP government. Particularly, Scotland’s younger generation, who see their future at stake with the government’s handling of the crisis, have criticised the shortfall. This generation of young people, comprising 15% of the population as of 2022, are becoming more and more vocal about securing a sustainable future for the country, and with this, a sustainable future for the planet.

The wind turbines in the Scottish seas are likely to enable Britain to achieve its own ‘Net Zero’ Climate target by 2050. The proposal, put forward by the CCC, would also make Britain’s plan one of the most ambitious across the globe. However, both Scotland and Britain’s exclusion of “export” emissions in this target is indicative of the fact that both nations can and should still be doing more to deter the rise of global emissions, beyond just cutting out national emissions.

The rest of the world will surely be anxious to see Scotland failing to keep up with the rate of emissions reduction it had set

Mark Ruskell, a spokesman for the Green Party in Scotland, currently in power alongside the SNP, stated that the party was: “determined to accelerate the substantial action needed to tackle the climate change crisis.” He also added that they expected: “the Scottish government to respond to the challenge”, an expectation which has now been unmet. This therefore leaves the country in a precarious position as to what it can do and will do in light of the advice from the CCC.

The Scottish Government was the first in the world to declare a Climate Emergency, and so now faces great pains in rescinding its own targets. However, ministers presently have little option but to set out a new, more achievable, goal for 2030 and remove the old target. Seen as a pacemaker in the race to stop global emissions, the rest of the world will surely be anxious to see Scotland failing to keep up with the rate of emissions reduction it had set. However, this does not mean that countries should not keep pushing to attain climate victories, big and small, in their global targets. The example Scotland has set should be an indicator for other nations to be more meticulous and robust in their plans to reduce emissions, and not less.