Local MP seeks greater urgency on climate change action

3.00.54pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 13th Mar 2007

Malcolm Bruce and Gordon MSP Nora Radcliffe demonstrating solar technologies which will help tackle climate change

The Government's announcement of its Draft Climate Change Bill has been welcomed with a note of caution by Gordon MP Malcolm Bruce.

Environment Secretary David Miliband today stated plans to cut the UK's carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by the year 2050. The Bill does not, however, include the setting of annual targets.

Mr Bruce who is vice-president of Globe International, an influential international legislators' forum on climate change, commented:

"The letters I have received from many of my constituents in Gordon reflect a real sense of urgency and desire amongst ordinary people to confront global warming. By issuing a draft Bill instead of the urgent action promised in the last Queen's speech, the Government appears to be buying itself more time.

"The Government's recent record has fallen short, presiding over a 3% rise in carbon dioxide emissions and decreases in green taxes as a percentage of GDP. Of course this Bill is a step in the right direction but it needs to go further with annual target reviews rather than the five-yearly one suggested and I also question whether the 60% cut in emissions by 2050, ambitious as it is, goes far enough when leading scientists argue that an 80% reduction is necessary."

Mr Bruce added:

"Scottish Liberal Democrats by pledging to provide 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2050 have shown a genuine long-term interest in environmental issues. We are the only party willing to introduce the radical measures needed to avert irreversible devastation to the planet and to put Scotland at the leading edge of new technologies."