SCOTLAND will become one of the first countries to achieve a 100% reduction in carbon emissions, but campaigners are not happy that the target has no set date.

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham yesterday published a bill which will immediately set a target of a 90% reduction by 2050. The minister pointed out that the UK Committee on Climate Change (UKCCC) states that figure is currently “at the limit of feasibility”.

The draft Bill sets out that the Scottish Government intends to go further still and achieve a 100% reduction in emissions, known as “net-zero”, as soon as possible.

Even though no other part of the UK is looking at anything like such a reduction in emissions, the failure to set a date for zero emissions has angered some.

Tom Ballantine, chairman of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “It’s hugely disappointing that the Scottish Government has failed to live up to its own rhetoric on global climate change leadership, by failing to set a net zero emissions target in the Climate Change Bill published today.

“The government claims Scotland will be one of the first countries to achieve zero emissions, but the bill does not commit to that. It sets a target of only a 90% reduction in emissions by 2050.”

Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “Countries around the world are looking to increase their climate change targets to deliver the ambition of the Paris Agreement, so it is right that Scotland does so too.

“Renewable energy will play a crucial part in this and the recent falls in cost for offshore and onshore wind in Scotland and the UK show what is possible with the right long-term policies.

“While this Bill continues to show Scotland’s ambition, we would urge Ministers and Parliament to set a date for delivering net zero emissions and to remain a world leader in the fight against climate change.”

The Bill states that Ministers will be legally required to keep the net-zero target date under review by seeking expert advice on the issue every five years. The Scottish Government stated: “The target date will become legally-binding, subject to the consent of the Scottish Parliament, as soon as there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate the date is credible and achievable.”

Scotland’s current targets are for a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and an 80% reduction by 2050.

Roseanna Cunningham said: “Our Climate Change Bill sets out our commitment to reduce emissions by 100 per cent with ambitious interim targets which strengthen Scotland’s world-leading position on climate change.

“Our 90% target will be tougher even than the 100% goal set by a handful of other countries, because our legislation will set annual targets.”