Inside environment: Westminster's climate change ambitions turn up heat on SNP

Published Date: 08 October 2008 ALEX Salmond has long trumpeted his aspiration for Scotland to lead the way in the global fight to tackle climate change. However, recommendations to Westminster this week by the Committee on Climate Change threaten to topple that ambition. Some insiders think they could force the Scottish Government to respond by taking an even more ambitious approach. , the recommendations would see Westminster set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 – matching Scotland's targets – rather than its earlier aim of 60 per cent. More significantly, it would include all greenhouse gases rather than just carbon dioxide. Most ambitious of all, it would include emissions from international aviation and shipping. By contrast, the Scottish Government has yet to spell out whether it plans... [read full story]