{"id":1704,"date":"2020-10-07T14:13:53","date_gmt":"2020-10-07T13:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/rural-environment\/?p=1704"},"modified":"2020-10-07T14:13:53","modified_gmt":"2020-10-07T13:13:53","slug":"environment-secretary-global-climate-emergency-has-not-gone-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/rural-environment\/2020\/10\/07\/environment-secretary-global-climate-emergency-has-not-gone-away\/","title":{"rendered":"Environment Secretary: \u2018Global climate emergency has not gone away\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Environment and Climate Change Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham today responded to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) 2020 statutory Scottish Progress Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cWhile in recent months coronavirus (COVID-19) has rightly been the overwhelming focus of governments across the world, the global climate emergency has not gone away \u2013 far from it – and this report is a timely reminder of that.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s publication of independent, expert advice from the Committee is of particular significance, coming at a time when building a green recovery must be central to all of our efforts.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the report points out, Scotland\u2019s economy has decarbonised more quickly than the rest of the UK, and faster than any G20 economy since 2008. We have halved our national emissions since 1990 but we must go further and faster if we are to achieve a just transition\u00a0to net-zero by 2045.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Committee also noted the \u2018important steps\u2019 we have taken to embed net-zero as a core government policy and highlighted this year\u2019s Budget and Programme for Government for making substantial commitments in support of climate action.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are now in the process of updating our Climate Change Plan, for publication later this year, and I will be considering the recommendations in the Committee\u2019s report very carefully as we finalise this plan in the coming months.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, there can be no doubt Scotland\u2019s climate change targets are immensely challenging. If we are to succeed in ending our contribution to global climate change, it will require action from every area of society and the economy. It must be a shared national endeavour.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd as the Committee\u2019s report makes clear, there must be more action \u2013 right now and in the future – from the UK Government in many key areas where policy levers remain reserved. I hope the global climate talks at COP26 in Glasgow next year will also provide a platform to spur wider action and set the whole world on a course to net-zero in a way that is both just and fair for all living on this precious planet and for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Committee on Climate Change<\/a> is the statutory independent advisory body to the Scottish Government on matters related to climate change. An annual report from the Committee on progress in reducing emissions is a requirement under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.<\/p>\n

The Government\u2019s Programme for Scotland 2020-21<\/a> made a number of commitments to deliver a green recovery, including<\/p>\n