The Scottish Parliament has approved an ambitious climate-change plan that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050.

That target includes emissions from international aviation and shipping.

The Government’s bill also sets an interim goal of cutting emissions by 42 per cent by 2020.

“Scotland can be proud of this bill, the most ambitious and comprehensive piece of climate change legislation anywhere in the world,” said Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson. “As a country, we are leading global action and expect others to follow our lead as we look to the international summit in Copenhagen this December.”

He added, “Setting targets is not an end in itself, it is delivery that matters. In our delivery plan published last week we set out a vision of how we will achieve our targets, demanding action now and in the future.”

Stevenson noted that, while climate change is a threat, it also poses an opportunity.

“Harnessing the energy-related opportunities presented by Scotland’s natural capital can create tens of thousands of jobs and help us emerge from the current global economic downturn on the back of a strong green economic revival,” he said. “Achieving these targets will be challenging. But I am confident that Government, business and the people of Scotland are ready to rise to the challenge.”

Even California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger added his support to the bill.

“Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution,” he said. “Scotland’s ambitious and comprehensive targets encourage other nations to step up to the plate as we look toward an international agreement in Copenhagen, and it sends a message to the world that we must act now and we must act swiftly.”

More than 21,000 responses were received to the Scottish Government’s consultation on a draft Climate Change Bill.

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