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(4 December 2020) – The Scottish Government announced it will publish its own indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in the ‘spirit of the Paris Agreement’ and a ‘clear commitment to joining and leading the international effort on tackling climate change’.

NDCs (or national climate plans and emissions targets) are a centrepiece of the Paris Agreement and countries are required to update their NDCs every five years, starting with this year. Previously, Scotland and the UK were part of a joint EU NDC, which set an EU-wide emissions target. The UK Government are developing a UK-wide NDC to submit ahead of COP26.

Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “While we are part of the UK, Scotland cannot formally submit an NDC. However, the Scottish Government is determined to engage with and raise global climate ambition ahead of welcoming the world to Glasgow next year. We will publish ‘Scotland’s contribution to the Paris Agreement – an indicative NDC’. It will focus on Scotland’s world-leading target to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030.”  The Scottish indicative NDC will follow the Government’s update to its 2018 Climate Change Plan, to be published this month, and which will set out further action to tackle the global climate crisis.”

In response, WWF-Scotland director Lang Banks said, “We welcome the announcement from Scottish Government that they will publish an indicative NDC before hosting COP in Glasgow in 2021. By doing so, Scotland is showing real commitment to doing its part in keeping us below a catastrophic 2˚C
global temperature rises. Voices from across civil society in Scotland have been calling on Scottish Government to make this commitment, and we’re delighted that by doing so they are helping create an international ‘race to the top’ on ambitious climate action.”

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF global lead for climate and energy, welcomed the statement saying, Scotland, where COP26 will take place in November 2021, continues to show what other governments could be doing to set the pace on climate ambition.

“For the world to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as scientists say we must if we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we need a collective effort and fearless leadership. Scotland is uniquely positioned to take innovative climate action and to influence others to do the same. Scotland’s efforts will, no doubt, rally Scottish cities, businesses, investors and citizens to take their own ambitious action to reduce emissions,” he said.

Notes to Editors:

1. Scotland is one of the original signatories to the Climate Ambition Alliance, launched in December 2019 at COP25.
2. Scotland is a leading member of the Under 2 Coalition of states and regions committed to keeping warming to below 2˚C while striving for 1.5˚C.
3. Glasgow will host COP26 from 1-12 November 2021.

 
For further information, contact:
Lexi Parfitt LParfitt@wwfscotland.org.uk
Mandy Jean Woods mwoods@wwfint.org