Anger over net-zero backtrack
The vice-convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) climate change and custainability committee has slammed the Scottish Government for ditching its 2030 targets.
Energy secretary Mairi McAllan recently told the Scottish Parliament the 2030 target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75 per cent was “out of reach”.
Perth and Kinross councillor Liz Barrett is “angry” and “frustrated” at the “utter betrayal of future generations and communities”.
On Thursday, April 18, Ms McAllan told MSPs the Scottish Government had scrapped its 2030 target but would retain its legal commitment to reach netzero by 2045.
Cllr Barrett is viceconvener of Perth and Kinross council’s climate change and sustainability committee.
The Perth City South councillor - who regularly cycles around her ward on council business - has this week urged Perth and Kinross residents to play their part in tackling the climate emergency.
She said: “Please keep doing all we can to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies in spite of the SNP and Green’s failure of leadership.”
The Liberal Democrat councillor added: “I’m angry and frustrated by the SNP/ Greens ditching Scotland’s climate change targets.
“For years we have needed action and investment from the Scottish Government; it hasn’t happened. Instead they’ve missed eight of the last 12 annual targets legally required under the Climate Change Act to cut emissions.
“That is an utter betrayal of future generations and communities facing the impacts of climate change, which will hit women and young people especially hard.
“In 2019, Scotland had greater potential to remove pollution from its economy than the UK overall.
“We could have been a world leader on climate change.
“The SNP and Greens have squandered our lead.”
In November 2022, PKC declared a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency. PKC also said more financial support from both the UK and Scottish governments was needed to help local authorities meet their net-zero targets, a point reiterated by Cllr Barrett this week.
The Perth City South councillor has called for “clear, realistic plans and funding from the UK and Scottish Governments” for the region and “not more vague route maps or recycled policy statements”.
Cllr Barrett added: “The SNP/Greens have cut £189 million from building new warm and energy efficient homes, £80m from rail services and £63m from the Future Transport Fund for electric car chargers, hydrogen and other infrastructure.
“In Perth, we’re still waiting for the Scottish Government to approve Flood Risk Management arrangements that expired in 2022.
“This SNP/Green government is failing the climate emergency whilst cutting essential services, wasting millions on the ferries fiasco, botched bottle recycling, and their plans for independence.
“Despite this terrible failure, we mustn’t give up. I appeal to everyone to keep making the changes in our lives, reducing use of plastics, cutting food waste and leaving the car at home. Together we can all make a difference.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson reaffirmed its legal commitment to the 2045 target.
The spokesperson said: “Scotland’s 2045 net-zero target is not changing. The proposed new bill will retain our legal commitment to 2045 alongside annual reporting on progress, while introducing a target approach based on fiveyearly carbon budgets – an approach utilised in the UK and Wales, and which aligns with the nuanced and practical approaches to reducing emissions advocated by the climate change committee.
“Our legal commitment to reach net-zero by 2045 steadfastly remains, and with emissions in Scotland already nearly cut in half, we are well-positioned to continue leading on climate action that is fair, ambitious and capable of rising to the emergency before us.”