Labour improvments to the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill
26/6/2009 Labour Improvements to the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill – e-mail from Sarah Boyak MSP1. Scottish Labour MSPs forced the SNP to bring forward the interim target date for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2030 to 2020, by applying pressure in the Stage 1 consideration of the Bill.
2. In the course of the Stage 1 debate, Labour secured agreement from SNP Ministers that they would automatically raise the interim target from 34% to 42% if the Copenhagen agreement delivers an agreement for Europe-wide action.
3. Labour then put forward a Stage 3 amendment, with the backing of Stop Climate Chaos, which required the Scottish government to seek expert advice on the interim target and argued that the percentage target in the Bill should therefore be raised from 34% to 40%. Labour’s approach secured unanimous support from the Parliament and the final agreement was that a 42% interim target should be enshrined in the Bill, and could be adjusted up or down on the basis of expert advice from the UK Committee on Climate Change.
4. Labour inserted into the Bill a requirement that annual targets must be set in such a way as to be realistically in line with the goal of hitting the longer-term targets, so as to prevent the government putting off early action.
5. Scottish Labour worked with other parties to add to the Bill our policy of a legal requirement for local authorities to reduce Council Tax by at least £50 for those homes who install energy efficiency measures (e.g. insulation or microgeneration like mini wind turbines or solar panels). The schemes will apply across Scotland and to all Council Tax bands.
6. We worked with other parties to bring in business rate reductions for those businesses taking action to improve the energy efficiency of their premises (e.g. by installing insulation or microgeneration like mini wind turbines or solar panels).
7. Scottish Ministers now have to produce concrete provisions regarding emissions of greenhouse gases from international aviation and international shipping by 1 June 2010 or as soon as practicable thereafter.
8. We amended the Bill to ensure that the reduction on climate contribution is predominantly through action in Scotland rather than through the mechanism of international credits. The SNP however weakened these restrictions by creating a loophole.
9. We amended the Bill to require Ministers to have regard to jobs and employment opportunities in setting their climate change targets and objectives.
10. We put forward clauses introducing duties on public bodies which will require all public bodies to consider climate change in their decision-making.
11. We amended the Bill to require Ministers to have regard to the impact on poorer and deprived communities, and on remote rural and island communities in setting their climate change targets and objectives.
12. We worked with the Church of Scotland and other political parties to have a requirement for a public engagement strategy included in the Bill.
13. We added to the functions of the advisory body the function of providing advice, analysis, information and other assistance to Scottish ministers in respect of setting and delivering the interim target.
14. We set tight limits on Scottish Ministers crediting carbon units to the net Scottish emissions account in the period 2013-2017.
15. We put in place effective reporting arrangements, including a requirement that ministers should attend parliamentary committees to give evidence, the publication of advice and additional reporting requirements on cumulative emissions and consumption.
16. We added a clause requiring a 2015 reporting date on how Scotland is doing on early action, ensuring that between now and 2015 the Government will be under pressure to make the necessary progress on meeting the interim target.
17. We secured support for an amendment that obliges public bodies to report on how they use procurement policies and wider workplace policies to comply with their climate change duties.
18. We ensured that employers and trade unions are involved in and consulted upon adaptation policies and that there will be public engagement on adaptation policies.
19. We amended the Bill to require the production of a land-use strategy.
20. Through amendments on behalf of the Energy Committee we ensured targets are put in place for the Scottish Government’s energy efficiency plan.
21. Through amendments on behalf of the Energy Committee we ensured the assessment of the energy efficiency of living accommodation is included in the energy efficiency plan.
22. We introduced amendments which enable the planning and building control systems to encourage increased energy efficiency.
23. We proposed regulations removing the burden of non-domestic rates on distribution pipes and risers, thereby making it easier to take forward combined heat and power schemes in Scotland.
24. We ensured permitted development rights would be brought in, to encourage the use of air source heat pumps and mini wind turbines in domestic properties and non-domestic buildings.
25. We amended the Bill to require the identification of expected contributions towards annual targets from the energy efficiency, energy production, transport and land use sectors.
26. We introduced a sustainability duty on Ministers and on the advisory body.
27. We amended Schedule 1 of the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 to include the installation of insulation as “maintenance”.