Introduction
"We have passed an historic, groundbreaking bill that sets an international example that we hope others will follow."
Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP, First Minister of Scotland, June 25, 2009
Climate Change is one of the greatest challenges the world faces, threatening life through its impacts on temperature, on natural resources such as fresh water, and through increased risks of disease and flooding. In many cases it is the deprived people in the world who are most exposed to the impacts of climate change.
The Scottish Parliament, with the strong support of Scottish civic society and business, unanimously passed the Climate Change (Scotland) Act in June 2009. The Act's world-leading targets provide the certainty businesses and communities need to plan for the low carbon future in Scotland.