Once upon a time, Scotland was deservedly lauded for setting some of the most ambitious climate targets anywhere in the world. In 2019, Nicola Sturgeon announced the goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 – and turning Scotland net zero by 2045, five years ahead of the UK target.
But three years on, the verdict from the Climate Change Committee – independent expert advisers to all the governments of the UK – is damning. The entire Scottish plan is in jeopardy due to ministers having no “clear delivery plan” nor any “coherent explanation” for how it will meet their green aims.
Emission targets were hit in 2020 – due to the Covid shutdown – but this was likely a fluke against a “trend of failure”. On key measures, such as home insulation, peatland restoration and tree-planting, the government is falling short.
