Bid to curb emissions now in jeopardy

A CLIMATE expert has warned that Scotland’s plans to help tackle global warming are in jeopardy after the Bute House Agreement was axed.

Chris Stark, who stepped down from his role as the chief executive of independent body the Climate Change Committee (CCC) last week, said the upheaval from the political fallout could hit the nation’s ability to stick to its green ambitions.

His criticism came days after the Scottish Government scrapped its flagship target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75 per cent by 2030, following a scathing report from the CCC which branded the goal ‘unachievable’.

Instead, Holyrood ministers have opted to stick to a single long-term target of reaching net zero by 2045. But Mr Stark said Humza Yousaf’s decision to ditch the Bute House Agreement in the aftermath of the fallout is not going help the nation’s green credentials.

He told Scotland on Sunday that a minority government in Edinburgh would leave the decarbonisation plans on a knife-edge, adding: ‘It is policies that matter, and if you have a minority administration that can’t get strong policies through, then I really fear for our ability to cut greenhouse gas emissions. ‘It could have a very big impact.’ Mr Stark said the CCC is not due to give advice on the next pathway for emissions in Scotland until next year and the lack of climate policies with no solid plans in place meant the termination of the agreement was concerning for the nation’s green ambitions.

He added: ‘We’re now left with a situation where we are going to have an empty Climate Change Act, with only a target for 2045 during a period of real turmoil in Scottish politics.

‘The idea of there being a sort of loose piece of legislation around this at a time when there is this much turmoil in Scottish politics is worrying.’

The Scottish Government has insisted it remains ‘committed’ to meeting the net zero target by 2045.