Alex Salmond has hit back against claims that his government is guilty of "indefensible" energy policies.

An analysis by the Guardian newspaper found that Holyrood’s oil and gas strategies could release 10bn tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

In an address on Wednesday to a conference on low-carbon technologies, the First Minister said his government was pursuing "world leading" targets on renewable power while maximising oil and gas production.

Mr Salmond said Scotland had a "huge competitive advantage" in the global marine energy industry.

The conference was told a £103m Scottish low-carbon investment fund had just opened as a means to support marine energy and community heating schemes.

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But the First Minister is under increasing pressure from a coalition of 60 Scottish environment groups following news that Scotland's CO2 emissions had risen in 2010.

Many groups believe Mr Salmond is failing to act on important matters and is instead building more roads, backing aviation and cancelling rail schemes.

Opencast coal mining has also increased sharply under his government.

Tom Ballantine is chairman of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland; a lobby group which had previously supprted the First Minister’s policies.

He said: "A government that is serious about moving to a low-carbon economy and reducing Scotland's emissions cannot be promoting – and should not be using public funds to prop up – the oil and gas industry. Nor can it continue its relentless focus on building new roads, which will create even more emissions."

Mr Salmond said: "Transportation has certainly been an area where Scotland has to do more as indeed is heating, but I don't think anyone would seriously dispute that in terms of electricity production then our commitment and our success in low-carbon and renewable generation has been one of the most important in the world."

(IT)