SNP Scottish National Party : Maintaining Scotland’s global leadership on climate change

Today the Scottish Government published its draft Climate Change Plan, setting out how, over the next 15 years, we will go even further in reducing Scotland's carbon emissions.Read the plan in full here.

1. We will reduce carbon emissions by 66 per cent, compared to 1990 levels, by 2032.

Scotland has not only met its existing world-leading climate change targets, we are outperforming the UK and all but one EU-15 country.

But there's much more to do. In 2015 countries 195 came together to conclude the Paris Agreement on climate change, the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate change deal. Our new ambitions will ensure that we don't just meet our international obligations under this agreement but continue to lead.

2. We will set a new ambition to decarbonise our electricity sector.

We have already exceeded our target of producing 50 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2015. We will now go further. By 2030 we expect to have wholly decarbonised the electricity sector, through increased use of renewables and technologies that remove carbon from the atmosphere.

And by 2032, we will ensure that 80 per cent of the energy used to heat our homes will be provided by low carbon heat technologies.

3. We will increase the proportion of ultra-low emission new cars and vans in Scotland by at least 40 per cent by 2032.

Cars are currently responsible for 44 per cent of all transport emissions. That's why we'll take steps to incentivise the use of ultra-low emission vehicles and increase the number of electric vehicle charging points.

4. We aim to restore 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2032, compared to 1990 levels.

Almost a fifth of Scotland is covered with peatland, which are natural carbon storage facilities. Our investment in peatland restoration has already improved more than 10,000 hectares since 2013. This year we will increase funding for restoring peatlands from £2 million.

5. We will raise tree-planting rates over time up to 15,000 hectares of woodland every year.

Not only is the creation of woodland essential to tackling climate change but the forestry industry generates £1 billion for our economy and support 25,000 jobs.

Read more about how we're protecting our environment and tackling climate change in our PolicyBase.