Scotland makes pledge to help deliver Paris Agreement

The Scottish Government has set out how it plans to help meet the global goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, as it marks 100 days until COP26 is held in Glasgow.

It has published an indicative Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) today, which outlines Scotland's contribution to preventing warming of more 1.5 degrees.

The Scottish Government is not a formal party to the Paris Agreement but has made the decision to publish an indicative NDC as a sign of Scotland’s commitment to joining and leading the international effort on tackling climate change.

As part of the climate agreement negotiated in Paris in 2015, signatories must publish NDCs – plans setting out their action to contribute to the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees. The UK Government published a UK-wide NDC in December.

The indicative NDC reflects Scotland’s framework of statutory emissions reduction targets, including its 2030 target to reduce emissions of all major greenhouse gases by at least 75 per cent.

It also sets out its approach to achieving these targets and the commitment to deliver a just transition.

Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, said: "With COP26 coming to Glasgow, Scotland has a unique opportunity to show leadership on climate action on the international stage.

"I’m proud to publish this pledge, setting out how Scotland is contributing to the global aims of the Paris Agreement. By highlighting our own action, we hope to inspire others to raise their ambition.

"COP26 represents the world's best chance – and possibly one of our last chances – to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. We are working hard with our delivery partners to make sure the event is safe and secure and to create a platform for agreeing decisive climate action."