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| Wed, 16th Dec 2020 13:08:00 |
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Scottish government sets out plans to hit net-zero emissions |
The Scottish government has set out details of how it plans to hit its climate change targets and reduce emissions to net-zero by 2045.
MSPs passed a bill in 2019 which put the targets down in law - including a 75% cut in emissions by 2030.
New policies designed to hit these goals include increased tree planting and use of low carbon technology.
Ministers have also brought forward a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars to 2030, in line with UK plans.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said there was an "unprecedented" challenge ahead to deliver targets while rebuilding the economy in the wake of Covid-19.
However, she said the government was "determined" to grasp the opportunities of "a transition to a fairer, more sustainable and greener economy".
MSPs passed a bill in 2019 which put the "net-zero" target - the aim of having all emissions offset by 2045 - in law.
The plans were overwhelmingly backed by MSPs, although the Scottish Greens abstained in the vote having called for more ambitious milestones to be set along the way.
The plans published by the government on Wednesday set out how it intends to build towards the initial goal of a 75% reduction in emissions - compared to 1990 levels - by 2030.
By 2022, the government wants to have implemented a deposit return scheme for single-use drinks containers, and to have a series of technology funds backing the hydrogen and carbon capture and storage industries up and running.
By 2024 it aims to be creating 18,000 hectares of new woodlands per year, with the ultimate goal of having 21% of Scotland's land covered by forest by 2032 - compared to 19% today.
Ministers have set a target of having 50% of all new heating systems being installed to be zero-emissions models by 2025, and to reduce food waste by 33% compared to 2013.
They want to have "phased out" the need for new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 - and there is a goal of reducing the use of cars generally, with the number of kilometres driven to be reduced by 20%.
The government also aims to restore 250,000 hectares of peatland, which is helpful in storing carbon and is seen as a "nature based solution" to emissions.
By that year ministers also want renewable energy generation to account for 50% of energy demand across electricity, heat and transport.
Beyond this, there is also a goal of fully decarbonising the passenger rail network by 2035
Read original full article
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