As UN climate change talks get underway in Poland today, Scottish Labour's Climate Change spokesperson, Des McNulty, has called on the Scottish Government to take action now to reduce emissions.

Mr McNulty said:

"The Scottish Government must take practical policy steps which show it is serious about cutting pollution.

"Long term targets to reduce emissions are worthy aspirations, but unless the upward rise in Scotland's emissions is halted and reversed within the next five years it will be impossible to meet these targets.

"Climate change considerations must influence major spending decisions, especially decisions on infrastructure with long term consequences such as those which will emerge from the National Planning Framework and the Strategic Transport Projects Review - both of which are due to be published later this month."

1 December 2008