Scotland will be at the forefront of global action on climate change, Finance Secretary John Swinney said today as he set out the key components of the Scottish Climate Change Bill.

By including international aviation and shipping, emissions from all six greenhouse gases, and annual targets, Scotland will have the most ambitious Bill to tackle climate change anywhere in the world.

Commenting on over 21,000 responses to the Scottish Government's consultation on a draft Climate Change Bill, Mr Swinney said: "Climate change is one of the most serious threats we face as a global community and we all need to play our part in tackling it. The Scottish Government has always been clear that Scotland will play a leading role in the international fight against climate change.

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"I was delighted to hear last week that the UK Government will move to equal the Scottish Government's position of an 80 per cent reduction in emissions. However, the Scottish Bill will go even further.

"This Government has taken the bold decision to include emissions from international aviation and shipping within its targets. Scotland benefits greatly from international trade and travel and we believe it is right to take responsibility for the Scottish share of these emissions."

Mr Swinney said achieving these targets will be challenging but he is confident that Government, business and the people of Scotland are ready to rise to the challenge of climate change.

Mr Swinney was accompanied by Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson on a joint visit to an innovative Easterhouse community project which uses wind turbines to reduce energy bills and electricity consumption.

Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "As a Government we've put renewable energy at the heart of our vision of tackling climate change and we want to harness our massive clean energy potential and make Scotland the green energy capital of Europe.

"We have already announced a total private investment of £1bn pounds in renewable energy projects in Scotland, including the huge Clyde windfarm, and we have trebled the budgets for grants for small scale renewables.

"We are investing in public transport infrastructure that tackles congestion and promoting other forms of sustainable travel such as cycling and walking to enable everyone to play their part."

(GK/JM)