Scotland sets decarbonisation target and urges UK to follow suit

The coalition’s decision not to include a decarbonisation target in last month’s energy bill has been pulled into question, after the Scottish government revealed its plans to cut carbon in its electricity by more than 80% by 2030.

First minister Alex Salmond revealed the ambitious objective yesterday, claiming that the mixed messages from the UK were “undermining confidence and threatening investment by the supply chain”.

He added that he hoped Scotland’s adoption of the target would inspire David Cameron’s government to follow suit.

Reacting to the news, Friends of the Earth’s director of policy and campaigns Craig Bennett said, “The big question is whether the coalition listens to British business and its climate change advisors and adopts a UK-wide decarbonisation target.

“Will George Osborne give industry a clear signal to invest in our green economy, or will he leave England and Wales in the dark ages by sending much-needed jobs abroad?”

In October, Scotland revealed that half of its electricity in 2015 would be produced by renewable energy – five years earlier than initially planned.

Its decision to implement a concrete decarbonisation target by 2030 follows a revolt within parliament led by Conservative MP and chair of the energy and climate change select committee Tim Yeo, who said the government’s gas strategy was threatening the UK’s chances of becoming “a true world leader in clean technology”.

Further reading:

Tim Yeo leads energy bill revolt over lack of decarbonisation target

Investors given partial certainty as government publishes energy bill

Scotland ramps up renewable electricity target to 50% by 2015

Energy bill in the spotlight?

Scotland surges on in renewable energy investment