The 2030 target was set by the Climate Change (Emissions Reductions Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019. This legislation also committed Scotland to reaching net zero by 2045 and was supported by the Scottish Conservatives. The Scottish Ministers were required under this legislation to produce legally binding annual targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The SNP-Green Government have consistently failed to meet these targets since they came into force. Indeed, the government has failed to meet eight of their last twelve emission targets and have now only recently accepted the report of the independent Climate Change Committee that Scotland’s 2030 targets were beyond reach. The government have therefore announced that they would scrap the 2030 target, along with annual emissions targets, and move towards five-yearly targets while retaining Scotland’s commitment to achieve net zero by 2045.
The Scottish Conservatives have consistently warned the SNP-Green Government that it was failing to deliver on its supposedly “world-leading” targets. As the key areas of emissions are devolved, this mess is solely the SNP and the Greens’ responsibility. This is highlighted by the fact that they have repeatedly delayed the publication of their Climate Change Plan and the scrapping of the 2030 target casts further doubt on whether this document will be delivered. By ignoring the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee and pursuing policies, which are more centred more on virtue-signalling and grievance-mongering, rather than helping Scotland to achieve net zero, the SNP-Green Government have hindered our progress towards meeting this goal.
The scrapping of Scotland’s 2030 emissions targets is another example of the SNP-Green government failing to meet people's priorities.