John Swinney today met Stavros Dimas, the European Environment Commissioner, to discuss Scotland's world-leading stance on climate change.

He also expressed disappointment at the UK government's refusal to support Scotland's presence at the world climate change talks in Copenhagen.

Scotland's world-leading position on tackling climate change was the subject of high-level talks between John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, and Stavros Dimas, the European Environment Commissioner, in Brussels today.

Mr Swinney told the Commissioner that Scotland's Climate Change Act focused on the most ambitious carbon reduction target in the world and should therefore be an influence on what can be achieved during talks involving all nations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December.

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They also discussed what the EU needs to offer developing countries to secure their support on climate change.

Mr Swinney voiced his disappointment at the refusal by the UK government to include a Scottish minister in the official delegation attending the talks. He said this was an obstacle to the promotion of Scottish climate change action on the international stage.

Mr Swinney said: "Scotland has introduced a world-leading framework on climate change as a model of international best practice. We hope that the example of Scotland taking strong action can be used to influence the international community to agree an ambitious post-Kyoto treaty in Copenhagen. It is essential that action is taken at every level and we would be delighted if Scotland's actions could give new impetus to the international and EU negotiations."

(GK/KMcA)