Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019

1 The net-zero emissions target

Before section 1 of the 2009 Act (and the italic cross heading immediately preceding it), insert—

“The net-zero emissions target

A1 The net-zero emissions target

(1) The Scottish Ministers must ensure that the net Scottish emissions account for the net-zero emissions target year is at least 100% lower than the baseline (the target is known as the “net-zero emissions target”).

(2) The “net-zero emissions target year” is 2045.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations modify subsection (2) so as to substitute for the year for the time being mentioned in that subsection—

(a) an earlier year, or

(b) a later year if—

(i) that later year is consistent with the most up-to-date advice they have received from the relevant body, and

(ii) that advice states that the later year is appropriate on the basis of either scientific knowledge about climate change or current international carbon reporting practice (or both).

(4) In preparing a draft of regulations to be made under subsection (3), the Scottish Ministers must have regard to—

(a) the target-setting criteria, and

(b) the most up-to-date advice they have received from the relevant body.

(5) As soon as reasonably practicable after laying for approval a draft of such regulations, the Scottish Ministers must publish a statement setting out—

(a) their reasons for proposing to modify the net-zero emissions target year,

(b) the extent to which the proposed net-zero emissions target year takes account of the target-setting criteria, and

(c) whether the proposed net-zero emissions target year is consistent with the most up-to-date advice they have received from the relevant body and, if it is not, the reasons why.”