Reacting to new climate emissions data showing Scotland met the annual emissions target for 2020 with a record 12% fall year-on-year, Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said:
“It is undoubtedly positive that Scotland has met the latest annual emissions reduction target, ending a damaging series of three missed targets in-a-row.
“But to ensure we meet future targets, we must lock-in and urgently build upon the substantial drop in emissions during the pandemic, including the big drop in transport emissions, through faster policy action.
“The First Minister is today, rightly, calling upon on all developed countries to step up and show ‘much greater commitment’ to support low-income countries already facing deep climate impacts.
“But while we must urgently provide new and additional financial support to impacted communities, all rich nations must also stop creating yet more loss and damage by slashing their emissions quickly.
“To achieve these twin aims, all rich nations, including Scotland, must do more to make polluters-pay for the damage they are inflicting. We cannot continue to leave low-income countries to foot the bill.”
ENDS
For more information or interviews please contact:
Natalie Terry, Oxfam Scotland; nterry1@oxfam.org.uk / 07906139293
Notes to Editors
Oxfam has today published Footing the Bill, their report on fair finance for loss and damage in an era of escalating climate impacts. Photos and footage are available here. Read Oxfam Scotland’s press release.
The countries with the most recurring emergency appeals linked to extreme weather (Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Chad, Sudan and Zimbabwe) account for 1.4 per cent of global emissions.
Recent data from Oxfam shows that the wealthiest 1 per cent of humanity are responsible for twice as many emissions as the poorest 50 per cent , and that by 2030, their carbon footprints are in fact set to be 30 times greater than the level compatible with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is today making a video address at a meeting of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Implementation in Germany, which includes the first ‘Glasgow Dialogue’ on loss and damage.