Scotland commits to becoming a net-zero society in landmark legislation

Scotland has been at the forefront of efforts to address climate change in the UK, putting forward ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint, develop new technologies and further reduce emissions through a number of innovative schemes.

Scotland’s Climate Change Bill will commit the country to becoming a net-zero society 5 years before the rest of the UK, in 2045. Scotland will also take action to reduce emissions drastically by 75% as early as 2030 as it sets its sights on the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees.

In the last 30 years, Scotland’s emissions have almost halved from 1990 levels, and is on an ambitious drive to help businesses, estates and large operations cease generating any emissions.

The climate change plan will cover a 15-year period from its publication to the year 2032 after the bill receives royal assent.

Billed as one of the toughest climate change laws in the world, Holyrood overwhelmingly supported the new legislation with only 6 abstentions. No ministers voted against its implementation, however Scottish Green MSPs have not backed the Climate Change Bill as they feel the targets are not ambitious enough and won’t be sufficient to stop irreversible damage to the environment.

Should other countries be looking to reduce their emissions in line with Scotland’s ambitious targets?