Climate change legislation passed by MSPs

The Scottish Conservatives described the revised targets as “a humiliating climbdown”.

However, acting Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said the Scottish government was “unwavering” in its commitment to achieve net zero by 2045.

She said: “It is crucial that our target pathway to 2045 is set at a pace and scale that is feasible and reflects the latest independent expert advice.

“Carbon budgets are an established model for assessment of emissions reductions used by other nations including Japan, France, England and Wales, and they will include emissions from international aviation and shipping and there will be no provision to ‘carry over’ emissions from one carbon budget to another.

“We will continue leading on climate action that is fair, ambitious and capable of rising to the emergency before us and reflects our commitment to the ambition of credible emissions reduction.”

The Scottish government accepted in April that its previous goal was “out of reach”, but because it was included in climate change legislation, ministers have had to bring forward the Bill to amend it.

As well as amending previous 2019 legislation, the new Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill will see a move to a five-year cycle of carbon budgeting, instead of reducing gradually by a set time.