Some of the new technologies coming forward do not have to be seen as climate change measures, Chris Stark says.

He adds we need to engage people.

Prof Keith Bell says there is a lot to be hopeful about when it comes to public engagement, pointing to the interest in electric vehicles as an example.

Image source, bbc

Mr Macdonald pivots to low carbon heating and asks if there is an opportunity to accelerate the decarbonisation of the gas grid.

"If there is a test of whether we are serious it's heating," Chris Stark insists.

It's based on fossil fuels in Scotland at the moment and this must be addressed, he says

The CCC CEO points out: "There is no strategy for a decarbonised heating system."

He says the UK and Scottish governments have no excuse not to put that plan in place now.

"I would really like to see a UK wide strategy for domestic heat now."

Prof Piers Forster says there is an opportunity for Scotland to lead on the heat strategy because more homes are not on the gas grid.

It's the final call, say scientists, in the most extensive warning yet on the risks of rising global temperatures.

Their dramatic report on keeping that rise under 1.5 degrees C, external says the world is now completely off track, heading instead towards 3C.

Keeping to the preferred target of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels will mean "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society".

It will be hugely expensive - but the window of opportunity remains open.

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr MacDonald asks about the role of nuclear energy.

Chris Stark says renewable energy has proven to be useful but there is a limit to it unless paired up with other technologies.

He says the gap may need to be filled by either nuclear or carbon capture and storage.

We are agnostic about the technology and the market will decide which is best, he adds.

• Climate change: Is nuclear power the answer?

Image source, bbc

SNP MSP Angus Macdonald asks what challenges are there in increasing renewable levels fourfold.

One of the issues is getting the supply chain going replies Prof Bell.

The CCC academic cites the need for financing for both offshore and onshore wind.

He says some sort of financing mechanism is needed for onshore wind and solar energy.

Image source, Thinkstock

Is increasing peatland the most effective land intervention for absorbing CO2 asks Stewart Stevenson.

Prof Piers Forster says it is very effective and it needn't cover large areas.

David Joffe says the magnitude of the challenge means we need to look at peatland and afforestation and other areas too.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees, or sowing seeds, in a barren land devoid of any trees to create a forest.

Image source, EPA

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has declared a "climate emergency" in her speech to the SNP conference.

The SNP leader told delegates in Edinburgh she was inspired after meeting young climate campaigners who had gone on strike from school.

Ms Sturgeon said "they are right", and pledged to "live up to our responsibility" to halt climate change.

Read more here.

Image source, bbc

Mr Ruskell asks if we must wait for the CCC to set a 2030 target as time is running out.

We've offered you the best assessment of what is achievable in Scotland, replies Mr Stark.

I'm not asking you to wait I'm asking you to act on the very ambitious recommendations in this report, he adds.

Mr Joffe says getting the policies in place is more important than setting a 2030 target.

Prof Forster sets out three goals of the CCC:

1. To bring forward the date of the electric vehicles switch-over with a ban for petrol and diesel cars from the 2030 time period
2. To develop the carbon capture storage clusters in the next five years
3. To change our forestation target immediately with a recommendation for Scotland of forest cover of 20% to be rapidly increased to 30%

We have to get planting trees because they take time to grow and suck the carbon from the atmosphere, the CCC academic adds.

Chris Stark says the most important aspect of the CCC's report is the global discussion and suggestion richer countries go first and take the lead.

This is because they can afford it, he explains, which is also a service because it can help to bring down the cost of technologies to benefit developing countries.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks about the 2030 target.

Mr Stark explains a detailed pathway for Scotland has not been developed yet but the CCC intends to do so over the next 12 months.

Image source, bbc

Chris Stark says to tackle global warming the globe must get to net-zero and therefore consumption emissions must fall.

The CCC CEO adds given that we consume more on the average than the rest of the world, higher targets for the UK and Scotland are appropriate.

"These emissions have got to be counted in the global ledger," adds Prof Bell.

Prof Forster says we can be confident consumption emissions will reduce.

We are in every sector straining every sinew if we are to reach the targets in this report, says Chris Stark.

He warns that any date prior to the 2050 for the UK and 2045 for Scotland carries a huge amount of risk for failure.

There are physical and real barriers to achieving it, he explains.

Prof Piers Forster adds that other countries are considering similar targets but 2045 for Scotland is the most ambitious in the world because it considers a range of emissions and does not involve offsetting.

Image source, bbc

Professor Piers Forster tells the committee the aviation and agriculture sectors are cautious because there are really big implications for them.

They are the two industries that can't decarbonise completely he adds.

"I think they understand they have to do more than they are doing currently."

He is almost certain both sectors will come back to the government and demand financial support.

Prof Bell says the political leverage of setting an ambitious target for Scotland is important to help make the move to electricity.

The academic cites the need for investment in skills, not just in deployment but also in innovation.

He points to challenges in the operation of the electricity sector.

Image source, Reuters

Eight European countries have called for an ambitious strategy to tackle climate change – and to spend a quarter of the entire EU budget on fighting it.

The joint statement says the EU should have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 "at the latest".

It was signed by France, Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

The group says their plan can "go hand in hand with prosperity" and "set an example for other countries to follow."

Read more here.

Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks about the importance of the relationship with the EU in terms of innovation, research and the energy market.

It's not as important as the UK but it is very important, replies Mr Stark.

For example, we need to decarbonise freight across the EU and we can sit behind some of the big frameworks he explains.

We are, in the main, well ahead of some of the EU frameworks, the CCC CEO adds.

Image source, bbc

Ms Martin asks what model the CCC used to come up with the pathways.

David Joffe, an economic expert from the CCC, explains detailed sectoral analysis was used to get the greater detail required.

His colleague Professor Keith Bell adds the priority was to identify there are credible and affordable pathways.