Scotland has signed a joint agreement to tackle climate change with the US State of California, in the same week that new figures have highlighted a record month for Scottish wind power generation. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon reached a deal with Governor of California Edmund G Brown in Sacramento yesterday (3 April) to share best-practice in developing offshore wind. The pair also met to discuss how the two administrations can work together to achieve the goals set by the Under2 Coalition, a commitment by sub-national governments to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions toward net-zero by 2050. “Scotland is making huge progress in delivering our climate change ambitions, but we are not complacent and there is still much to achieve,” Sturgeon said. “Today’s meeting strengthened our relationship with the Government of California and I’m confident we can work together to achieve the targets set out by the Under2 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Edie 4th April 2017 read more »
BBC 4th April 2017 read more »
SCOTLAND’S booming renewables sector is at risk if the UK Government persists with plans to take environmental protection powers coming from Brussels rather than hand them to Holyrood, the head of a leading environment charity has warned. The green energy industry north of the Border has grown significantly in recent years, and now employs more than 20,000 people and delivers around £1 billion a year in investment. It is also a sector the Scottish Government wants to expand and which the SNP’s growth commission has emphasised is vital part to a new economic strategy for independence. Currently, the UK is obliged to meet European Union targets on energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate change but after Brexit it will be up to Westminster to set any targets on the first two. A new set o f targets will have to be agreed with the UN on climate change. In its bid to boost the renewables sector the Scottish Government has set higher energy targets than both those set in Brussels and London. The UK Conservative Government, in contrast, has adopted an energy policy based on promoting fracking and nuclear power and had slashed subsidies for renewables. Last night Richard Dixon, director of Friends of the Earth Scotland, warned the Scottish Government’s ambitions for the green energy sector could be undermined if Westminster holds onto powers over renewable targets post-Brexit.
The National 5th April 2017 read more »