Caritas Internationalis and its Scottish member SCIAF say that Scotland has laid down a challenge to the rest of the world by passing the most ambitious climate change legislation of any industrialised nation.

The Scottish Parliament unanimously agreed to cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020, and at least 80% by 2050, following a huge push by Scottish campaigners including Caritas Internationalis member SCIAF.

The new legislation, which also includes counting emissions from aviation and shipping, sets an example to world governments ahead of December’s UN’s climate talks in Copenhagen that strong action on climate change can and must be taken.

Chris Hegarty, SCIAF’s Advocacy Manager said, “The Scottish Parliament has voted for legislation that will be held up as an example to European and world governments ahead of the UN’s climate change talks in Copenhagen in December to replace the Kyoto Protocol.

“Uniquely, Scotland’s targets are guided by science as opposed to political expediency. They are based on what we have to do, rather than what we feel we can do. This is a positive and rational response to a global challenge, and we are calling on governments across the world to follow suit.

Scotland’s Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said, “Climate Change is the most serious threat we face. The Scottish government is responding with the most ambitious and comprehensive climate change legislation anywhere in the world.

“As a country we are leading global action and expect others to follow our lead as we look to the international summit in Copenhagen this December.

"Setting ambitious targets is not an end in itself. It is delivery that matters and we have set out the steps we will take to deliver the scale of emissions reductions needed to safeguard our future and to position Scotland as frontrunner in developing a sustainable low-carbon economy.”

Chris Hegarty said, “Countries such as China, India and many other developing nations are demanding that wealthy countries in Europe take strong action to reduce their own emissions and do not seek to off-load their responsibilities to poorer countries through carbon trading.

“Caritas and SCIAF are already seeing the devastating impact that climate change is having on poor communities in developing countries with increased droughts, floods, and changing seasonal weather patterns.

“As Scotland has shown, it is possible for wealthy governments to take the strong action if they are sincere in addressing the problem. All governments have a moral responsibility to address this problem before it gets much worse.”

Leading elements of the bill include:

• At least a 42% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (based on 1990 levels);
• At least an 80% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (based on 1990 levels);
• Emissions from international aviation & shipping to be included from the start;
• Strong duty across the public sector to play a full part in tackling Scotland’s greenhouse gas emission;
• Commitment to report annually on consumption-based emissions;
• Strong energy efficiency measures to tackle fuel poverty and save energy.

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Media requests:

Val Morgan at SCIAF +44 (0)141 354 5555, +44 (0)7914 408 589 email: vmorgan@sciaf.org.uk

Notes to editors:

The Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) is Scotland’s leading international development organisation. It was set up in 1965 as the official international development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland. SCIAF works in over 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America helping people to work their way out of poverty, regardless of their race or religion. It provides emergency and development aid as well as campaigning for trade justice, debt relief, more and better aid, and to address climate change. www.sciaf.org.uk