Image source, SPL

Climate change is devastating our seas and frozen regions as never before, a major new United Nations report warns.

According to a UN panel of scientists,, externalwaters are rising, the ice is melting, and species are moving habitat due to human activities.

And the loss of permanently frozen lands threatens to unleash even more carbon, hastening the decline.

There is some guarded hope that the worst impacts can be avoided, with deep and immediate cuts to carbon emissions.

This is the third in a series of special reports that have been produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) over the past 12 months.

Read more here.

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Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham warns this group of amendments runs the risk of oversubscribing this policy area and creating a hierarchy.

These concerns remain, she says, however the minister says she can accept some of the amendments, including on oil and gas, one blue carbon amendment and on whole farming approaches.

She also says she can back the amendment on an agricultural modernisation fund.

Check out the Group 10 amendments on the climate change plan proposals and policies here, external.

Mr Ruskell says not enough has been done in the sectors of housing and farming on climate change.

He calls for the majority of houses to achieve an energy performance certificate rating of C.

The Green MSP also calls for a "watertight" fracking ban, adding the climate change plan must set out the government's policies on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Tory MSP Maurice Golden calls for the creation of an agricultural modernisation fund to support climate-friendly farming practices.

He also calls for backing of his amendment which would ensure a whole-farm approach to emissions accounting.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish offers support to this whole-farm approach and seeks to add carbon sequestration and agroforestry to the list of possible ways farms can reduce emissions with her own amendments.

Image source, Getty Images

Green MSP Mark Ruskell says his amendment calling for a climate change plan to be published within six months of the legislation receiving royal assent, insisting a "fresh plan with fresh ambition" is required.

Ms Cunningham says she is disappointed Mr Ruskell has lodged this amendment, arguing a timescale of an entirely new plan in six months is not only unreasonable but also impossible.

She confirms an updated plan will be available within six months.

Mr Ruskell withdraws his amendment.

The next amendments relate to a land use strategy.

Claudia Beamish highlights they are supported by a range of stakeholders, before explaining her amendments seek to strengthen the proposals around regional frameworks and partnerships.

Roseanna Cunningham says the government will accept these amendments, saying they are broadly in line with its commitments.

She expresses some concern about the regular reporting on the land use strategy but accepts the argument for reporting generally.

The first of the two amendments is passed, with the second vote to follow shortly.

Image source, TIM GRAHAM/GETTY IMAGES

MSPs have backed an amendment to the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill from Labour MSP Claudia Beamish, calling for a new interim target of cutting emissions by 75% by 2030.

They rejected the more ambitious 80% cut proposed by the Greens.

An amendment from Green MSP Mark Ruskell, proposing a citizens assembly on climate change, ws however unanimously backed.

Scotland's current target, set in the Climate Change Act, is to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050 compared with benchmark levels from 1990.

This bill will set the new target of net-zero by 2045, if passed, as expected, at decision time.

Tory MSP Maurice Golden speaks to his amendment calling for a national nitrogen balance sheet.

This would quantify all major nitrogen flows across all sectors and media in Scotland, including its coastal waters, the atmosphere and soil and flows across these boundaries.

It's unanimously passed.

Thousands of young people have taken part in school strikes across Scotland and around the world to demand urgent action on climate change.

They were the latest in a series of strikes started a year ago by 16-year-old Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg.

Organisers said 20,000 people joined the demonstration in Edinburgh, with thousands also gathering in Glasgow.

Events took place in all of Scotland's major cities, many towns and some islands including Iona and Skye.

• Scottish protesters: 'It's up to us'
• Climate change: Scotland to set faster target for net-zero emissions
• What is climate emergency?
• What is climate change?
• Where we are in seven charts and what you can do to help
• Read more here

Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur offers his support to the amendment, agreeing a citizens assembly on this could make a "real difference".

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish says it is important to bring people into decision-making and confirms her party supports the amendment.

Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says issues will not be resolved without a commitment to a "more respectful and informed dialogue".

"Climate change is an issue well suited to a citizens assembly."

MSPs unanimously back setting up a citizens assembly on climate change.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Mark Ruskell moves to his amendment calling for a climate citizens assembly.

The Green MSP says a climate citizens assembly assembly is essential, citing the example in Ireland.

"I look forward to the establishment of Scotland's first ever climate citizens assembly."

The government has already committed to a citizens assembly on climate change to make recommendations to ministers on how Scotland’s net-zero transition should be achieved.

Moving to the next grouping of amendments on sustainable development and climate justice, Labour MSP Claudia Beamish says climate change will most impact those who can contribute least.

Climate change is linked to human rights and will exacerbate inequality, she warns.

She urges MSPs to pass all amendments in this group to "show the world" Scotland is a member of the global community and is "taking a moral approach" to the climate emergency.

To follow the votes on the amendments from this grouping, you'll need:

• Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill, external
• Marshalled List of Amendments selected for Stage 3, external

• Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3, external

Image source, bbc

MSPs back a new interim target of cutting emissions by 75% by 2030, but reject the more ambitious 80% cut proposed by the Greens.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish saw her amendment with the 75% target backed unanimously.

The amendment from Green MSP Mark Ruskell, calling for an 80% cut, fell with seven MSPs voted for it, 92 against and with 19 abstentions.

MSPs will vote on whether to pass the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Bill at decision time.

The legislation will set in law a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2045.