Scotland will today support the case for greater ambition in EU wide climate change targets.

Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson will be in Luxembourg to strengthen the UK delegation as the Environment Council discusses the economics of moving beyond the current 20 per cent emissions reduction target for 2020.

Prior to the Council meeting, Mr Stevenson will meet Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne, for the first time, to discuss how Scottish Ministers can work with UK counterparts to influence other nations and boost support for concerted international action on climate change.

Mr Stevenson will also meet Danish Minister for the Climate, Energy and Equal Rights, Ms Lykke Friis, to discuss areas of common interest in climate change and energy policy.

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Stewart Stevenson said: "Scotland is already setting an example to cut emissions, with the most ambitious climate legislation in the world and the determination to meet our targets and transform to a low carbon economy.

"It is essential for us to work with the UK government and other forward thinking states to convince others that further action is necessary and that a low-carbon Europe is both feasible and affordable. Scotland is already leading the way with progress on renewables and investment in low carbon technology and I will be showing our EU partners how such measures are boosting economic performance."

He continued: "The Commission will present its analysis which shows that moving to a 30 per cent target for emissions reduction across Europe by 2020 will cost less than 0.6 per cent of EU wide GDP in 2020. Central to delivering this is strengthening the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, a policy we have argued consistently for, which would further boost green investment and cut emissions cost effectively."

"I look forward to working at the Council to put across our ambition, our expertise and to make a long lasting difference to European climate action," he said.

(GK)