Minister invited to climate change talks

THE Scottish Government has joined one of the world’s most influential climate change groups which is providing ministers with the opportunity to attend a summit in Copenhagen next month.

The Climate Group, which works with government and business leaders to cut global emissions and accelerate low-carbon economies, has invited Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson to attend a fringe event it is holding at the United Nations conference on December 15.

The move is good news for the SNP because Prime Minister Gordon Brown has repeatedly refused to allow a Scottish minister to be part of the UK Government delegation at the summit.

He told First Minister Alex Salmond that UK Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband would be attending and he was welcome to send a civil servant along.

The situation angered the Nationalists given the Scottish parliament recently passed the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill which sets targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020 and by 80% by 2050.

A spokeswoman for the Climate Group, an independent not-for-profit organisation, confirmed Mr Stevenson will be invited to participate in one of several fringe events being held.

She added that the organisation will not be taking part in the formal negotiations for a new international climate change deal, however.

Mr Stevenson, MSP for Banff and Buchan, said the government had no hesitation in becoming a full member of the Climate Group given Scotland’s commitment to tackling the effects of global warming.

Other members include Marks and Spencer and Scottish Power, California and New York City.