New figures show that the Scottish Government have failed to meet their target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Although total emissions fell by 3.3%, Scotland's adjusted emissions actually increased by 3.7% due to the EU-wide Emissions Trading System (ETS).
Nicola Sturgeon recently declared a ‘climate emergency’ yet weeks later, the Scottish Government has failed to meet the 2017 emissions target.
Ms Hamilton is concerned at the adjusted rise in emissions, and believes the SNP Government can do more to properly tackle littering, pollution, landfill waste and transport emissions in order to meet targets.
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP, Rachael Hamilton said:
“One minute it’s a climate emergency, the next minute the SNP’s failing to meet basic targets, it boils down to nothing less than hypocritical grandstanding.
“The SNP are all over the place when it comes to tackling climate change, they claim Scotland is leading the way, and yet the figures show the opposite.
“Emissions from transport, including road traffic and flying, went up by 2.1% in 2017. There has been very little progress in tackling transport emissions in 10 years.
“I welcome the 1.9% reduction in emissions from agriculture that just shows the hard work our farmers are doing to look after the countryside.
“The SNP however have failed to meet recycling targets, reduce air pollution and tackle the amount of waste going to landfill.
"Experts have told us that we need to move faster, and in April the first minister declared a climate emergency, yet it’s been all talk.