Scotland to abandon pledge to cut carbon emissions by 75% by 2030

The Scottish government is to abandon its “world-leading” goal to cut carbon emissions by 75% by 2030, after repeatedly missing its legally binding targets.

Màiri McAllan, the Scottish net zero secretary, is expected to announce that Scotland will instead follow the UK and Welsh government’s lead by adopting five-yearly “carbon budgets”, in a significant policy climbdown.

Environment campaigners are furious about the move, which follows repeated claims by Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, successive first ministers, that Scotland was a global leader on climate action.

Ami McCarthy, a campaigner with Greenpeace UK, said: “Legislating to reduce Scotland’s climate ambition, fresh off the back of the planet’s hottest ever recorded 12-month period, is like striking a match in a petrol station.

Tough action on climate was built into the Bute House agreement she signed with Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens co-leader.

The current Climate Change Act, which also sets annual targets, requires Scottish ministers to present a new plan to Holyrood by November.