Legislation and recommendations
Global Target
In December 2015, at COP21 all 196 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted the Paris Agreement. All countries agreed to work to limiting global temperature to well below 2°C, aiming for 1.5°C.
IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations to provide objective scientific information on human-made climate change, the natural, political and economic impacts it might have, as well as possible responses.
In April 2022, IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee said, “We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future. We have the tools and know-how required to limit warming...There are policies, regulations and market instruments that are proving effective. If these are scaled up and applied more widely and equitably, they can support deep emissions reductions and stimulate innovation.”
UK Climate Change Committee
The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) is an independent, statutory body set up to advise the UK and devolved governments on emissions targets and report on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Scottish Government Legislation
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires us to act sustainably, contribute to carbon emissions reduction targets and to climate change adaptation. We are expected, along with all Scotland's public bodies, to lead by example in combating climate change and making a valuable contribution towards achieving Scottish Government emissions reduction targets.