Scotland leads the way

Yesterday the Scottish Government enacted legislation committing Scotland to cut it's carbon dioxide emissions by 43% (on 1990 levels) by 2020. It sounds astonishing, but it is no more than is needed if we are to prevent the worst excesses that climate change promises.

Three cheers for Scotland and everyone who worked so hard to to the the bill through.

Meanwhile, back in the USA, campaigners are struggling to get a bill through that will see green house gas emissions cut by around 20% (on 2005 levels) by 2020. US campaigners are proclaiming world leading status for the bill. I don't think so.

Not only is the 20% target measly, but it's baseline is too high. From 1990 to 2005 US greenhouse gas emissions rose by 16% - so the US target would get it back to a little below 1990 levels. So you can see just how brave and monumental the Scottish target is.

But Scotland is such a tiny country. We need the USA to take the lead and be much braver and bolder. We need the USA to be able to go to Copenhagen in December with the moral authority to push for much bolder targets across the globe. So far they are failing miserably*.

And for a bit of context:

Per capita tonnes carbon dioxide emissions (2004)

• 20.4 - USA
• 9.8 - UK (Scotland is on a par, but slightly less)
• 9.8 - Germany
• 3.8 - China
• 6.7 - World average

And remember that a great deal of the China total includes all the manufacturing it does to supply Western markets with consumer goods. This is why it is fallacy to point to Chinese coal fueled power stations. Climate Change is caused by Western excesses and it is we who must change the way we live. So well done Scotland - and c'mon USA - you can do better!

*We should welcome the US bill - it is a huge and rapid turn around from the climate change denying stance of the Bush administration - but - ooooh we need so much more.