Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill

# Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill Scotland's existing climate change legislation set an emissions reduction target of 80 per cent by 2050, established over a decade earlier when scientific understanding of climate risks was less advanced. This bill responds to the updated consensus from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which indicates that much steeper and faster emissions cuts are needed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid catastrophic climate impacts. The legislation aims to bring Scotland's statutory climate commitments into line with current scientific evidence and the goals of the Paris Agreement, ensuring the country plays its part in the global response to climate change. The bill introduces a new target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, replacing the previous 80 per cent reduction goal. It also establishes more demanding interim targets for 2030 and 2040, requiring emissions reductions of 75 per cent and 90 per cent respectively from 1990 baseline levels. These targets apply across the Scottish economy including all sectors and gases. The legislation strengthens the framework for climate accountability by requiring the Scottish Government to set sector-specific policies and regularly report progress, while placing duties on public bodies, businesses, and individuals to contribute to achieving the targets. The bill received Royal Assent in October 2019 and is now the primary statutory basis for Scottish climate policy, making Scotland one of the first countries to legislate for a net-zero target of this ambition.

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