UN report on fossil fuels shows urgent action is needed on a global scale to tackle pollution

Scotland's biggest civil society coalition says a new hard-hitting UN report shows the country needs to take urgent action to fulfil the promise of its climate change act.

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland was reacting to a reportby the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The clock is ticking, we must act now – Richard Dixon

The group says Scotland should take a lead and set a benchmark for other countries.

It shows global emissions of greenhouse gases have risen to unprecedented levels despite a growing number of policies to reduce climate change.

Emissions grew more quickly between 2000 and 2010 than in each of the three previous decades.

The report entitled Climate Change 2014: Mititagiton of Climate Change is the third of three reports which make up the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report on Climate Change.

It says governments need to do more to promote renewable energy, and to make sure that energy is used efficiently.

Tom Ballantine, chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said countries must now put in place policies to drastically reduce emissions.

"The longer we wait, the more it will cost, not just in terms of money, but in terms of the massive impact it will have on people and environments around the globe.

"The report underlines the need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and instead focus on green energy," he said.

"Taking bold action and leadership on climate change will allow Scotland to play its part in the global effort to avoid catastrophic climate change, and at the same time create a better Scotland, where we have warmer homes, healthier transport options and cleaner air.”

Dr Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said bold international action was now urgently required to steer the planet away from “catastrophic climate change.”

He said: “If we’re to avoid levels of climate change that will be impossible to adapt to, governments must stand up to the fossil fuel industry and get serious about the huge potential of clean renewable power. Scotland has a major contribution to make in making this transition.

“The IPCC report is clear: we already have the technologies to make the journey to safe, clean energy.

“But the clock is ticking, we must act now.”