CENT005/2004 | 10 December 2004

ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE LAUNCHES INQUIRY INTO CLIMATE CHANGE

The Environment and Rural Development Committee today announced an open call for evidence for its forthcoming inquiry into climate change. The inquiry will examine the Scottish Executive's policies on climate change in the context of the UK's international responsibilities.

Sarah Boyack MSP, Convener of the Committee, said:

"The issue of climate change is going to have a very high political profile in 2005. Tony Blair has already said that it is one of the biggest issues facing the world, and has made it a top priority for the G8 summit at Gleneagles in July.

"This inquiry will be the first time that the Scottish Executive's policies for addressing the crucial issue of climate change have been scrutinised by the Scottish Parliament. We hope our inquiry programme will engage with a wide range of interests, and the focus will be on practical changes that will improve Scotland 's record on climate change.

"The Scottish Executive launched its own review of its climate change programme last week. We hope the Committee's inquiry will have a very positive influence on the shape of future policies, both to reduce emissions and to adapt to climate change."

Background Note

The remit of the inquiry is:

The Committee has decided to examine the policies of the Scottish Executive for addressing the challenge of climate change. The inquiry will focus on a number of points, including:

• To assess whether the Scottish Climate Change Programme is contributing effectively to the fulfilment of the UK 's international obligations and to the delivery of the UK 's climate change objectives. (How are the main policies working, are they the right ones for the future - especially in the context of distinctively Scottish features such as higher dispersal of population, different geography, land use, etc.?)
• Building on sustainable development research commissioned for the Committee, to examine how the process of policy development in Scotland can ensure that policy across all portfolios is 'climate change proofed'.
• To identify the policy priorities (across different sectors and geographical areas) which should be pursued to enable Scotland to meet the appropriate targets for reducing its contribution to future climate change - and to adapt to the effects of climate change. What should businesses, public sector organisations and individuals be doing?
• The inquiry aims to identify a number of clear and distinct priorities which should be pursued to improve the Scottish Executive's response to the challenge of climate change.

The Committee is seeking written submissions. It will take oral evidence at 4 meetings in late January and through February 2005. It hopes to publish its report in late March 2005. Further details of the programme and timetable will be available on the Environment and Rural Development Committee web page shortly.

The membership of the Committee is:

• Sarah Boyack (Convener) (Labour - Edinburgh Central)
• Mr Mark Ruskell (Deputy Convener) (Green - Mid Scotland and Fife )
• Rob Gibson (SNP - Highlands & Islands )
• Karen Gillon (Labour - Clydesdale)
• Alex Johnstone (Conservative - North East Scotland )
• Richard Lochhead (SNP - North East Scotland )
• Maureen Macmillan (Labour - Highlands & Islands )
• Mr Alasdair Morrison (Labour - Western Isles)
• Nora Radcliffe (Lib Dem - Gordon)

What sort of evidence is the Committee looking for?

Interested individuals and organisations are invited to submit written evidence to the Committee.

Evidence should be submitted no later than 12 noon on Friday 28 January 2005 . Late submissions can be accepted only by prior arrangement with the Committee Clerk.

Evidence should be reasonably brief and typewritten (normally no more than 4 sides of A4). It would be most helpful if responses could be submitted by email to: ERDC@scottish.parliament.uk

Alternatively, responses can be submitted by letter to Chris Berry , Assistant Clerk, Environment and Rural Development Committee, Room T3.60, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP.

Evidence received may be published by the Parliament and will be treated as a public document unless the submission specifically requests otherwise. If you wish your evidence not to be public, please discuss this with the Committee Clerk before submitting it. All responses will be circulated to the Committee. All responses become the property of the Scottish Parliament and we are unable to return documents.

For further information, the media contact is:

James Mackenzie: 0131 348 5605
email: james.mackenzie@scottish.parliament.uk

Environment and Rural Development Committee contact information

For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000

For general enquiries, contact 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
Text phone: 0131 348 3415 RNID Typetalk calls welcome
email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

Visit our website at: www.scottish.parliament.uk