Draft climate plan welcomed but campaigners fear the vision won't be delivered
Ambitious government targets to reduce Scotland’s carbon emissions by 66% by 2032 are seriously flawed according to climate campaigners.
It comes after the Scottish government outlined a new target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham set out the government's draft climate change plan for the next 15 years at Holyrood.
She targeted a fully-decarbonised electricity sector and 80% of domestic heat coming from low-carbon sources as part of the plan.
Campaigners welcomed the plans raised questions about the plan’s lack of new actions to deliver the vision.
The 172-page document sets a road map for decarbonising Scotland.
Environmental groups said it was merely "technofix", with not enough focus on changing behaviour.
Among the policies are making half of Scotland's buses low-carbon, fully-decarbonising the electricity sector and making 80% of homes heated by low-carbon technologies.
Tom Ballantine, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland said: "Clearly lots of work has gone into developing this picture of a low-carbon Scotland, and that is to be welcomed.
"Much of what was set out in today's plan is still at the pilot or consultation stage, and effort will now need to go into rapidly developing these into concrete policies.
"The urgency could not be clearer with this draft plan published straight after news that 2016 was the hottest year on record. With the threat from climate change increasing and affecting the lives of people here in Scotland and around the world, it's time to shift up a gear."
Cunningham said: “Our proposals for further deep cuts in emissions represent a new level of ambition which will help maintain Scotland's reputation as a climate leader within the international community.
Much of what is set out is still at the pilot or consultation stage - Tom Ballantine
"The transition to a low-carbon economy offers important opportunities for Scotland - thanks to our highly-skilled workforce, the strength of our research institutions and, of course, our natural resources.
"The Scottish government's ambitions are clear, but we have now reached a point in our journey where future progress will require the support of individuals, organisations and businesses across the country.”
But Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell said during a debate in the Scottish Parliament ministers were not listening to expert advice from the Committee on Climate Change, noting that action on only half of a set of recommendations from the group appeared in the plan.
