A zero emissions target would secure Scotland's place as a world leader in cutting emissions, environmental groups have said
Scottish Government plans to tackle climate change are too weak and mean Scotland will miss the opportunity to end its contribution to climate change within a generation.
Climate change campaigners have said the Scottish Government’s draft climate change bill does not live up to the government's rhetoric on the issue.
It sets a target of reducing carbon emissions by half by 2050, instead campaigners say it should be setting a date for the country becoming carbon neutral.
Tom Ballantine, chairman of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: "It's hugely disappointing that the Scottish Government has failed to live up to its own rhetoric on global climate change leadership, by failing to set a net zero emissions target in the climate change bill.
"The government claims Scotland will be one of the first countries to achieve zero emissions, but the bill does not commit to that. It sets a target of only a 90% reduction in emissions by 2050.
"By failing to ally with the global momentum towards zero emissions, led by countries like France, Sweden and New Zealand, Scotland is missing a huge opportunity to end its contribution to climate change in a generation, attract clean investment and retain its position as a leader on the global stage."
Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: "Countries around the world are looking to increase their climate change targets to deliver the ambition of the Paris Agreement, so it is right that Scotland does so too.
"While this bill continues to show Scotland's ambition, we would urge ministers and parliament to set a date for delivering net-zero emissions and to remain a world leader in the fight against climate change."
The bill states that a commitment will be made to net zero carbon emissions when a target date is deemed credible and achievable.
Environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: "Our climate change bill sets out our commitment to reduce emissions by 100% with ambitious interim targets which strengthen Scotland's world-leading position on climate change.
"Our 90% target will be tougher even than the 100% goal set by a handful of other countries, because our legislation will set more demanding, legally-binding, annual targets covering every sector of our economy.
"By 2030, we will cut emissions by two-thirds and, unlike other nations, we will not use carbon offsetting, where other countries are paid to cut emissions for us, to achieve our goal."
