Labour Improvements in the Climate Change Bill

1. We amended the bill to deliver significant incentives in the form of council tax reductions (of at least £50) and business rate reductions for those taking action to improve the energy efficiency of homes and businesses respectively.

2. Through pressure in the Stage One process, Labour forced the Scottish Government to accept that the interim target date should be brought forward from 2030 to 2020. 

3. In the course of the Stage One debate, Labour secured agreement from SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Ministers to bring forward an amendment which would automatically raise the target from 34% to 42% target if the Copenhagen agreement delivers an agreement for European action. 

4. At stage 3, Labour put forward an amendment, with the agreement of Stop Climate Chaos, which required the Scottish Government to seek expert advice on the interim target and on that basis argued that the percentage target in the bill should be raised from 34% to more than 40%. Labour’s approach secured unanimous support from the Chamber and the final agreement was that a 42% interim target should be put on the face of the Bill which could be varied up or down on the basis of expert advice from the UK Committee on Climate Change.

5. Labour inserted into the bill a requirement that annual targets must be set so that there is a planned reduction of emissions over time in a way that will prevent  the government putting off early action until the end of the interim target period and ensure the interim target is reached.

6. We amended the bill to require Ministers to have regard to jobs and employment opportunities in setting their climate change targets and objectives.

7. We amended the bill to require Ministers to have regard to the impact on poorer and deprived communities, and on remote rural and island communities in setting their climate change targets and objectives.

8. We added to the functions of the advisory body the function of providing advice, analysis, information and other assistance to Scottish ministers in respect of setting and delivering the interim target.

9. We amended the bill to ensure that the reduction on climate contribution is predominantly through domestic action rather than through the mechanism of international credits, introduced a 20% limit on the purchase by the Government of carbon credits from abroad and required the government to include the proportion of domestic reduction in the overall reduction in annual reports (Section 7A).  Regrettably the Scottish Government introduced an amendment at stage 3 which weakened these restrictions by creating a loophole but the framework controlling the use of international credits has remained in the Bill.

10. We required Scottish Ministers to lay the order to make provision regarding emissions of greenhouse gases from international aviation and international shipping before parliament by 1 June 2010 or as soon as practicable thereafter.

11. We set tight limits on Scottish Ministers crediting carbon units  to the net Scottish emissions account in the period 2013-2017.

12. We put in place effective reporting arrangements, including a requirement that ministers should attend parliamentary committees to give evidence, the publication of advice and additional reporting requirements on cumulative emissions and consumption.
 
13. We added a clause requiring a 2015 reporting date on how Scotland is doing on early action– ensuring that between now and 2015 the Government will be under pressure to make the necessary progress on meeting the interim target.

14. We put forward clauses introducing duties on public bodies which will require all public bodies to consider climate change in their decision-making.

15. We secured  support for an amendment that obliges public bodies to report on how they use procurement policies and wider workplace policies to comply with their climate change duties.

16. We ensured that employers and trade unions are involved in and consulted upon adaptation policies and that there will be public engagement on adaptation policies.

17. We amended the bill to require the production of a land use strategy.

18. Through amendments on behalf of the EET committee we ensured targets are put in place for the energy efficiency plan.

19. Through amendments on behalf of the EET committee we ensured the assessment of the energy efficiency of living accommodation is included in the energy efficiency plan.

20. We introduced amendments which enable the planning and building control systems to encourage increased energy efficiency.

21. We proposed regulations removing the burden of non-domestic rates on distribution pipes and risers, thereby making it easier to take forward combined heat and power schemes in Scotland.

22. We ensured permitted development rights would be brought in to encourage the use of air source heat pumps and micro wind turbines in domestic properties and non-domestic buildings.

23. We amended the bill to require the identification of expected contributions towards annual targets from the energy efficiency, energy production, transport and land use sectors.

24. We worked with the Church of Scotland and other political parties to have a requirement for a public engagement strategy included in the Bill.

25. We introduced a sustainability duty on Ministers and on the advisory body.

26. We amended schedule 1 of the Tenements (Scotland) Act 04 to include the installation of insulation as “maintenance”.