Greenouse gas emissions fell further in Scotland than the rest of the UK in 2014, according to the latest report from the Committee on Climate Change.

This is the first year annual targets have been met, with net emissions falling by 13%.

But the committee said the reductions were partly down to the relatively warm winter weather.

Image source, bbc

The Scottish government said the report highlighted the "excellent progress" made in reducing greenhouse emissions.

The committee produces an annual report assessing the Scottish government's actions on tackling the greenhouse gas emissions which lead to climate change.

Emissions in 2014 were almost 46% lower than 1990 levels, the report found.

• In depth: Climate change

Lord Deben says land use must be thought about across committee portfolios.

The peer says to deal with flooding and heavy rain then "land use must be thought about in the whole". 

As part of A Plan For Scotland: The Scottish Government's Programme For Scotland 2016-17, external, it was announced that proposals for a new Climate Change Bill, including a new 2020 target of reducing actual Scottish emissions by more than 50%, will be outlined in early 2017.

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SNP MSP Kate Forbes asks about how to make more progress in agricultural.

Ms Forbes asks about international collaboration.

Lord Deben says the Irish, New Zealand and the Finns are doing a lot of work in this area and there is a lot to learn from them. 

Image source, bbc

Image source, bbc

Lord Deben says the real problem with transport emissions is the number of small car journeys.

"You cannot expect people to make behavioural change if it is inconvenient."

He says people will wait for a bus if they know when it is coming but not if their expectation is just hope. 

The latest evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, external indicates that climate change is one of the most serious threats facing the world.

The Scottish government recognises climate change will have far reaching effects on Scotland's economy, its people and its environment and is determined to play its part in tackling climate change.

The world-leading Climate Change (Scotland) Act, external was passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament in 2009.

On 27 June 2013, the Scottish Government published Low Carbon Scotland: Meeting our Emissions Reduction Targets 2013-2027 - The Second Report on Proposals and Policies (RPP2), external.

Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2014, external data was published on 14 June 2016.

The Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions Annual Target Report 2013, external was published on 27 October 2015.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish asks about the place of co-operative models and community models.

The Labour MSP also raises the thorny issue of fracking.

Lord Deben he says he is a great believer in community projects and cites the success of Germany in this field.

Image source, Getty Images

Lord Deben says there is a big pressure on major utilities to be more fleet of foot in introducing new technologies and to sell their products better.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks where future energy will come from, offshore or onshore.

Matthew Bell says the rate of renewables installation will have to increase substantially.

"The things that are in the pipeline, if they are brought forward, will be sufficient to meet the 2020 target."

Image source, SPL

Lord Deben says there must be a mix, the danger is if there is only one way forward as we have a "terrible history" in picking winners.

He says we have a duty to remind the government going down one avenue would be perilous.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland has exceeded a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 42% - six years early.

New statistics show its 2014 emission levels were 45.8% lower than in 1990.

The Scottish government had set a target to reduce emissions by at least 42% by 2020, and 80% by 2050.

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham welcomed the "outstanding progress" and confirmed that the government would now set a "new and more testing 2020 target".

Figures published on the Scottish government's website, external also revealed that Scotland met its annual climate change targets for the first time since 2010.

But environmental campaigners said the loss of heavy industry and warm winters contributed more to the cut in emissions than bold government policy.

Lord Deben says the behavioural side of things must be looked at which is why a behavioural scientist has been brought on board to his team.

Image source, bbc

He says the difficulty in getting people to take up district heating illustrates this.  

Lord Deben says there are serious challences in agriculture, particularly with livestock.

He says agriculture is one of the biggest contributors to green house gases.

The committee is forced to suspend due to technical difficulties with the record keeping not working

Lord Deben jokes: "I wish I'd said something really outrageous!."

Chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change Matthew Bell empahsises Scotland would have met its targets without backloading.

Mr Bell says the extent of the over achievement is overstated if the allowances that have been taken out are put in in the future.

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Lord Deben says Brexit is "a dreadful thing to have done" but anybody who says they think they know what it will mean is lying. 

Committee convener Graeme Dey introduces the witnesses and gets the questioning underway by asking what the overall view of Scotland's progress has been in cutting emissions.

Lord Deben says: "Scotland is doing better than the rest of the UK."

The UK Committee on Climate Change chairman says he "unashamedly" uses Scotland in chasing others to do better.

The Lord says he is "slightly annoyed" some of the press reports emphasise the negatives, as when the weather is taken out of the equation  the Scottish government has still made considerable progress.

The target has been met and it was a tough target, so a "a bit of congratulations" should  come first, he says.

The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, external will now take evidence from:

• Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change Lord Deben,
• Chief executive of the Committee on Climate Change Matthew Bell

Kevin Keane
Environment Correspondent Kevin Keane

Greenhouse gas emissions fell further in Scotland than the rest of the UK according to the latest report from the Committee on Climate Change. 

However it says the reductions were largely down to the relatively warm winter weather and that schemes in some areas are "largely failing to deliver." 

The committee produces an annual report assessing the Scottish government's actions on tackling the greenhouse gas emissions which lead to climate change. 

This is the first year ministers can say they've met their annual target. 

The report praises them for generating more electricity from renewables but says "strong, credible policies" are needed in the transport and agriculture sectors. 

They're the next biggest emitters after power stations and the committee says current schemes are largely failing to deliver. 

The Scottish government says it acknowledges more needs to be done and will publish a new Climate Change Plan over the winter. 

Tom Ballantine, chairman of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: "The forthcoming climate action plan and proposed new Scottish Climate Act are huge opportunities for all parties in the Scottish parliament to show willing, work together and present a fresh plan with a clear timetable for all sectors to play their part.

"This must include transport, where our emissions remain stalled at 1990 levels and housing, where emissions have reduced only 3% since 2009."

Image source, Maverick Photo Agency