The UK government has been urged to "act immediately" and legislate for a UK-wide net-zero greenhouse gas target for 2050 at the latest.

Scottish Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham made the call after the recent report from the UK Committee on Climate Change stated that Scotland could achieve net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045, but also made it clear that our ambitions are contingent on the UK adopting a target for 2050 – as Scotland cannot deliver net-zero emissions by 2045 through devolved policy alone.

The Scottish Government is determined to stop contributing to climate change within a generation and acted on the advice from the Committee on Climate Change immediately by lodging amendments to the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill to set a legally binding target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest.

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In a letter to the Minister of State Claire Perry MP, Secretary Cunnigham called for six key actions from the UK government:

1. Accelerate deployment of fully operational carbon capture utilisation and storage facilities.

2. Accelerate action to decarbonise the gas grid, and consider the balance of taxes across different heating fuels to enable affordable low-carbon heating in homes and businesses across Scotland.

3. Re-design vehicle and tax incentives to support industry and business investment in zero emission and sustainable transport choices.

4. Commit to adhering to future EU emission standards regardless of our position in relation to the EU.

5. Reduce VAT on energy efficiency improvements in homes.

6. Ensure continued support for the renewables industry.