CLIMATE CHANGE BILL Consultation Paper June 2017

Contents

Contents Ministerial Foreword 

2

Section 1: A new Climate Change Bill  An evidence led approach  The scope of this consultation 

4 7 8

Section 2: Proposals on updating target ambition  A more ambitious 2050 target  A future target for net-zero emissions  A complete set of interim targets  Consistent annual targets 

9 9 11 11 12

Section 3: Actual Emissions  Targets based on actual Scottish emissions 

16 16

Section 4: Reviewing Targets and Reporting on Policies and Proposals  A flexible and responsive target framework  Future Climate Change Plans 

18 18

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Section 5: Assessing the wider impacts of the proposals  Assessing impacts on people  Assessing impacts on businesses and regulation  Assessing impacts on the environment 

21 21 22 22

Section 6: Other issues 

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ANNEX A: The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) 

24

ANNEX B: Summary of consultation questions 

25

ANNEX C: Responding to this consultation 

27

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Ministerial foreword 

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Ministerial foreword Ministerial foreword The Climate Change (Scotland) Act passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2009 helped to establish Scotland as a world leader in tackling climate change. The commitment to reduce emissions by at least 80% by 2050 was at the high end of the evidence available at the time which stated that global emission cuts of between 50% and 85% by 2050 will be required to minimise the chances of a global temperature rise in excess of 2°C. We have since seen sustained progress in meeting the ambitious targets set by the Act. The latest emission statistics published in June confirm achievement of Scotland’s annual target for the second successive year and progress that is well on track to meet the worldleading 2020 target. Scotland continues to outperform the UK in delivering long-term reductions and, in Western Europe, only Sweden and Finland have done better. We In 2009, the Scottish Parliament unanimously most ambitious are seeing the benefits of this progress with the lowpassed carbon the and renewable energy climate change legislation anywhere in the world. Seven years on, we economy supporting over 58,000 jobs in Scotland in 2015, generating over £10 are billion now indeveloping our Third Report on Policies and Proposals, the Climate turnover.

Change Plan, which will take us out to 2032. In those seven years, much has Our progress underpinned by a comprehensive package of policies and proposals changed and weisare in a fundamentally different political, economic, social to drive down emissions. Development of our third climate change plan setting a and technological landscape to that of 2009.

course to modernise and transform the economy over the next 15 years is ongoing. A draft of the plan was subject to a period of Parliamentary scrutiny and we are now In the international context, the UN Paris Agreement, the first global legally working with stakeholders to ensure that the final Plan maintains ambition in meeting binding agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions, came into force on 4 challenging goals; sets us apart as an innovator and global leader on climate issues; November 2016, and significantly earlier was I anticipated by the and is supported owned by the peoplethan of Scotland. anticipate publishing the final international community. We are now seeing extraordinary momentum Plan in early 2018.

towards a low carbon future which, although it will not be linear and Scotland is notunstoppable. alone in makingThe this low carbon transition. Global on cutting smooth, appears COP 22 Marrakech Actionmomentum Proclamation emissions is now unstoppableby andgovernments, the 2015 Paris Agreement reinforcescities th