Commenting on the long-awaited draft Climate Change (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Labour's Climate Change spokesperson Des McNulty said:

"We are fully committed to the 80 per cent reduction target set out in the Bill, but we recognise that urgent efforts are needed now to bring down emissions levels. In scrutinising the Bill therefore we will look not just at the aspirations but the practicalities and whether the paper commitment is matched by action. The next ten years are critical for averting catastrophic climate change and we cannot rely on empty rhetoric from the SNP. 

"It is vitally important that annual targets are set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and that progress is properly monitored. We will insist that the Scottish Government reports to parliament every year about what has been achieved and that there are penalties available if agreements are broken.

"Labour is particularly concerned that the lack of detail regarding annual targets in this Bill could allow the SNP to make it easy on themselves in the short-term, allow climate change to continue out of control and leave the major reductions to be achieved by future administrations.

Labour's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Environment Sarah Boyack, said:

"We will scrutinise the raft of other measures in the bill and will look for radical action to deliver significant reductions in carbon emissions in the next decade.  We need action on energy efficiency and microgeneration and carbon budgeting across the whole of the Scottish Government. Labour will also vigorously oppose the SNP's  proposal to lease 25 per cent of Scotland's forest estate."

5 December