Ms Cunningham says the level of the statutory Net Scottish Emissions Account shows emissions in 2015 were 45.504 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

She says: "This exceeds the target level set in legislation."

The minister goes on to say Scotland remains well on track to achieving its interim 2020 target.

She says: "I am pleased to report that actual Scottish emissions in 2015 are down - by 38% since 1990 and by 3% since 2014."

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says Scotland has met its statutory emissions target for the second year in a row.

Ms Cunningham says there have been ongoing improvements to underlying data.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has signed a joint agreement with the governor of California committing them to work together on climate change.

She met Jerry Brown for talks in Sacramento during a five-day visit to the United States.

They discussed how the two administrations could work together to achieve the ambitions set out in the Under2 memorandum of understanding between subnational governments.

This aims to cut CO2 emissions.

Read more here.

President Donald Trump has announced that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

He said moves to negotiate a new "fair" deal that would not disadvantage US businesses and workers would begin.

Mr Trump said during last year's presidential election campaign that he would take the step to help his country's oil and coal industries.

Opponents say withdrawing from the accord is an abdication of US leadership on a key global challenge.

Read more here.

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says she is please to inform parliament of the progress being made in climate change targets.

Ms Cunningham says the government is committed to global plans and that the withdrawal from the Paris agreement by the US is disappointing.

The climate change secretary says the government now has a climate deal with California and remains committed to the Paris agreement.

Image source, Getty Images

Greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland have risen but the statutory target for 2015 has been met, according to the latest figures.

They show emissions in 2015 were 41% below the levels for 1990, a benchmark against which targets are set.

Last year saw a record reduction of 45.8% which not only met the annual target but exceeded a medium-term aim to reduce emissions by 42% by 2020.

It means total emissions since 2014 are 1.8% higher.

Read more here.

Thje Scottish government will now give a statement on Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2015.

Image source, bbc

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says LGBTI pupils must have protection in every school.

Ms Constance says the LGBTI inclusive education working group met for the first time on 9 May.

Green MSP John Finnie asks what the deficiencies were of the previous definition of anti-Semitism and asks if Islamophobia will be re-defined.

Ms Constance says if the Muslim community contact the government to look at definitions then there is an open door.

She says the anti-Semitism definition was looked at with calmness.

Labour MSP Mary Fee asks if the government has plans to work with the Equality Network to fight hate crime against LGBTI people.

Ms Constance says there is already training of police officers in relation to LGBTI issue.s

The minister says there has been an increase in hate crime against the transgender community an increase of 30 to 40.

She says there is an under reporting here and she says it is important people report all types of abuse to show it is unacceptable.

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor asks what more the government will do to tackle disability hate crime.

Ms Constance says the government is focused on tackling all hate crime and that disability hate crime is under-reported.

The communities secretary says it is important that the work of the social security minister "locks in" to the overall objectives of this issue.

Image source, bbc

Communities and Equalities Secretary Angela Constance says there will be broader information on hate crime available and it will inform the multi disciplinary group among others.

Ms Constance says Ms Mitchell is right to point out that there is a variety of data that needs to be looke at.

The minister says Lord Braccadale work will touch on online abuse.

Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell says there is a concern over data collection and that some of the police data has not been available at a local level.

Ms Mitchell, who is the convener of the Justice Committee, asks what the government is doing about data collection and asks if she will elaborate on any discussions the government has had with social media companies.

Ms Constance says Ms McNeill is right to raise the importance of education.

The communities secretary says her statement is about how communities can respond to extremism and breaking down barriers.

"We have to be committed to this work with our communities," in the long term, she says.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill welcomes the statement and in particular the education service tackling hate crime.

Ms McNeill says it is a difficult time for many communities across the country.

She asks what the country is doing to prevent radicalisation being caused by discrimination.

The Labour MSP says she stood with many MSP alongside the Muslim community against terrorism on Sunday.

She calls for more details around hate crime.

Ms Constance says she has received a copy of the report Mr Tomkins refers to and is familiar with its content.

The communities secretary says the charges against those engaging in Jewish hate crime have risen.

She says there may well be instances of under-reporting and that inter-faith work is important.

Ms Constance says the multi-agency group must have a cross-party focus and that she wants it to be up-and-running this year.

She says there must be an increase in awareness of the impact of hate crime.

Image source, bbc

Tory MSP Adam Tomkins very much welcomes the statement and the actions the government is taking.

Mr Tomkins raises issues around anti-Semitism which he says is increasing in Scotland.

He asks for more detail for about the group that is being formed to help tackle hate crime.

Image source, Matt Alexander

Thousands of street parties, picnics and baking competitions will be held on 17 and 18 June to remember MP Jo Cox, a year after she was murdered.

Her widower Brendan said the UK-wide event, called The Great Get Together, would be a "fitting tribute" to the mother-of-two who died on 16 June 2016.

Her murder was "designed to divide our country" so uniting in this way would be "a powerful statement", he added.

The Royal Family and several charities are helping to publicise the event.

Mrs Cox, MP for Batley and Spen, was murdered outside her constituency office in Birstall, West Yorkshire, by Thomas Mair, who shouted the words "Britain first"as he shot and stabbed her.

Image source, bbc

Mrs Cox used her maiden speech in Parliament in 2015 to say people in the UK "have far more in common with each other than things that divide us".

Ms Constance says there are the "simple things" that everyone can do within their own communities.

The communities secretary says The Great Get Together, external, inspired by the late MP Jo Cox, is this weekend.

She encourages everyone to do what they canto promote a more inclusive society.