Ambitious Quest for Carbon Reduction

06/01/2010

In the wake of the climate change summit in Copenhagen countries around the globe are weighing up how to give effect to their emission reduction targets.  Britain is already recognised as a leading player in this emerging world movement but the autonomous Scottish government last year announced even more stretching environmental targets. 

This involved Scotland in setting itself one of the world's most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets, with the Scottish Parliament voting to cut the nation's CO₂ emissions by 42% by 2020.

In a rare show of unity, all political parties at the parliament in Holyrood unanimously agreed to fix the stretching target as part of a radical climate change bill, which also requires the Scottish government to set legally binding annual cuts in emissions from 2012.

The measures are even tougher than the 34% target set in the UK government's climate change act, which has no statutory annual targets.  In common with UK government aspirations, the Scottish longer-term goal is an 80% reduction on 1990 levels by 2050. 

Environmental campaigners have welcomed the ambition shown by Scotland and are now urging the nation forward as a leader in tackling climate change.  They point to accelerated take-up of new technologies as being key to achieving a step-change in emissions control.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), for example, is calling on the Scottish Government to do all it can during 2010 to deliver the widespread and rapid take up of electric vehicles.

The Scottish Government is expected to publish the results of its Low Carbon Vehicle consultation during Spring 2010.

WWF Scotland's Climate Policy Officer, Dr Sam Gardner, said:
 
"2010 is the year we must get things moving on electric vehicles in Scotland.

"Alongside measures to get people out of their cars, a switch to electric vehicles is going to be an essential part of tackling climate change. Scotland needs to embrace electric vehicles and start planning the infrastructure needed to make it happen.”

Allied Electric's Managing Director, Paul Nelson, said:

"The use of electric vehicles is paramount to the reduction of carbon emissions, these vehicles produce zero emissions in congested city centres and fewer emissions overall.  EV’s can also be powered by green energy sources meaning there’s an opportunity for Scotland to become a leader in the production of electricity from renewable sources and using this power to operate electric vehicles.

“It is essential that we fight to hold on to the lead we have worked hard to gain as it has the potential to create hundreds of much needed manufacturing jobs which are now few and far between as a result of the economic crisis.”

Lawrence Berns, CEO of Axeon - which supplies batteries for Allied Electric's range of all-electric vans and people carriers - commented:

“Axeon, headquartered in Dundee, is Europe’s foremost producer of Lithium-ion battery packs for electric vehicles.  Axeon’s battery and charger systems are designed and manufactured to exacting automotive standards in Scotland, drawing on many years of battery experience.  We expect electric vehicles to be an essential part of tackling climate change and would strongly support Scottish Government initiatives to accelerate the adoption of this technology during 2010.”

WWF Scotland is currently undertaking research looking at the emissions savings from different levels of future electric vehicle use and the associated infrastructure needs.

Related Articles:

• Glasgow Goes Electric
• Ireland Leads the Green Way
• Allied Sparks Interest in Sweden
• PM Backs Electric Vehicles