Landmark move brings both administrations closer through joint commitment
Scotland has signed a pact with California to tackle climate change.
A joint agreement committing the Scottish Government and the government of California to work together to tackle the problem was signed by first minster Nicola Sturgeon during her US tour.
Sturgeon met with the Governor of California Edmund G Brown in Sacramento to discuss how the two administrations can work together and provide a model for other governments to follow.
They also discussed the importance of offshore wind in tackling climate change and considered how the two governments could share knowledge and best practice in developing this technology.
Both parties set out plans to achieve a goal of limiting warming to below 2° celsius, (Under2 MOU) which scientists say is needed to avoid dangerous consequences.
Sturgeon commented: “Scotland is making huge progress in delivering our climate change ambitions, but we are not complacent and there is still much to achieve.
“Today’s meeting strengthened our relationship with the Government of California and I’m confident we can work together to achieve the targets set out by the Under2 MoU.
“We have also offered to help the Under2 Coalition, representing over one billion people, to prepare for a major summit in 2018 which will bring together the public and private sectors, alongside NGOs, to build support and action aimed at persuading national governments to increase their efforts to tackle climate change, in what will be an important year for taking stock against progress of the Paris Agreement.”
The move was praised by campaigners. WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: “The global transition to low-carbon future is already underway and it’s unstoppable.
“The real issue is how quickly we will get there, not whether we will get there. That’s why it’s fantastic to see the First Minister in the U.S. seeking to work with others prepared to stand up for people and nature threatened by global climate change.
“Scotland has a very positive story to share globally about how it has successfully created thousands of jobs and reduced carbon emissions from its power sector through the use of renewables.
“However, I’m also hoping that the First Minister will return from the U.S. full of ideas on how to repeat the success we’ve had in powering our homes and businesses with renewables in order to start reducing carbon pollution from Scotland’s transport and heating sectors.”
In 2018, Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change will take stock of the collective efforts in relation to progress towards the goal set in the Paris Agreement.
