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Claudia Beamish calls for a robust policy for a just transition to allow Scotland to be true leaders at COP26.

The Labour MSP urges the government to reconsider the limited lifespan of the Just Transition Commission.

Me Beamish calls for an update on the regional land use frameworks.

Ms Cunningham says before the next steps in the just transition framework are decided, the interim report due next year must be studied.

The commitment to a just transition is longer than the lifespan of the commission, she add.

We hope to be developing regional land use partnerships soon, Ms Cunningham says.

Tory MSP Maurice Golden says it is concerning the statutory target was missed, though he accepts in part it was due to a change in mechanism.

He seeks an outline for revising the climate change plan in light of the newer targets, and wonders about parliamentary scrutiny.

Ms Cunningham accepts the statistics were disappointing.

On the climate plan, she says the Climate Change Act received royal assent today therefore starting the six month clock.

She says she hopes the new draft will be given to the committee for consideration with three months for scrutiny.

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Ms Cunningham says she has asked the commission for an interim report at the start of next year.

Strong commitment to the transition will continue, she adds.

A national forum will be established and for the first time behavioural change will be included going forward, adds the climate change secretary.

She says a major United Nations climate change summit will take place in Glasgow.

The UK has won the bid to host the 26th Conference of the Parties, known as COP26, following a partnership with Italy.

Up to 30,000 delegates are expected to attend the event at Glasgow's Scottish Events Campus (SEC) at the end of next year.

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The Scottish greenhouse gas emissions annual target report: 2017, external provides detail on Scotland's annual climate change emissions reduction targets.

Part 1, externalof this report shows that the annual target for 2017 was missed. The domestic effort target for 2017 was met by virtue of the fact that no international carbon units were purchased to offset domestic emissions.

Part 2, external of this report contains information on net Scottish emissions.

In 2017, net Scottish emissions are estimated to have been 40,521,593tCO2e. This was 3.3 per cent lower than the 2016 figure of 41,896, 650tCO2e, or a 1,375,057tCO2edecrease. Between 1990 and 2017, there was a 46.8 per cent reduction in net Scottish emissions.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham highlights the Scottish greenhouse gas emissions annual target report: 2017, external published yesterday, the last of its kind due to newer legislation.

It shows actual emissions fell by 3.3% between 2016 and 2017, she says.

This government has stepped up its response to climate change recently, the cabinet secretary states, going on to list policy and plans.

Ms Cunningham says as the measures are stepped up, the public must be brought along with them and changes must not be, or be perceived to be, unfair.

Energy, transport, the built environment and oil and gas have all been considered by the Just Transition Commission so far she adds.

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The Scottish government has officially missed its target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Although total emissions fell by 3.3%, Scotland's participation in the EU-wide Emissions Trading System (ETS) means adjusted emissions, used for setting targets, increased by 3.7%.

It means Scotland has officially reduced its emissions by 39.1% since 1990.

However, "source emissions", which exclude the ETS, are down 46.8%.

Read more.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham is making a statement to coincide with the publication of the Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions Annual Target Report for 2017.

Initial figures in June showed the target had been missed.

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The Liberal Democrats welcome this statement about the distribution of £80m convergence funding to farmers, begins Mike Rumbles.

He particularly welcomes the fact farmers and crofters won't have to apply for the cash.

Mr Rumbles asks if the funding allocation model for the second tranche of £80m will be the same, or will he take time to analyse the success of the first tranche.

Mr Ewing says the second £80m will come in the next financial year and there are elements of the methodology that are yet to be finalised.

It is the intention to deliver the second tranche in a similar fashion, he adds.

Green MSP John Finnie says the funding is a victory for Scotland's crofters and farmers.

He asks whether there is any latitude at all the address those who have retired since 2014.

Mr Ewing says the majority of farmers who farmed then will still be doing so now and therefore will get money.

However, he says he does not believe the funding should be used to pay people in retrospect and he also says it would have confused the matter and caused delay.

Colin Smyth welcomes the outcome of the review by Lord Bew and the return of the convergence money, but adds he too has concerns about the details emerging in a press release rather than in the chamber.

The Labour MSP says there was a range of views about how this money should be allocated, but the one thing that united all was not to use it to plug the gap in LFASS (Less Favoured Area Support Scheme).

However Mr Smyth argues that is exactly what the minister has done and he demands a long term plan about agricultural funding.

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Mr Ewing disagrees with Colin Smyth’s opening remarks and argues he is not only delivering what he promised, but far more so.

The rural economy secretary points out parliament asked that an advisory group be set up to address long term issues and it is doing that work currently.

Tory MSP Peter Chapman says the funding has been brought to Scotland following a successful Scottish Tory campaign.

He expresses concern that the announcement was made to the press, not the parliament, first.

The Tory MSP also expresses concern that money will not go to region 1 land.

How can Fergus Ewing promote the idea he is a benevolent uncle while at the same time stealing from farmers pockets, he concludes.

Mr Ewing says the first tranche has been announced today for marginal land, exactly as was intended in the first place.

I will do all I can to maintain LFASS income, he adds.

The fact this money did not come to Scotland in the first place is "an historic injustice" he states, contrasting the six years to correct this with the six weeks it has taken the Scottish government to set out how it will be allocated.

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• Active farmers and crofters are to benefit from the first installment of convergence funding
• The initial £80m will be distributed to support active farming
• The focus will be on those who farm in our marginal uplands, hill farms and island areas
• The funding is the first tranche of a £160mn package the UK government has agreed to pay to rectify an ‘historic wrong’
• This related to EU Common Agricultural Policy funding that it failed to pass on to Scotland between 2014-2020

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Mr Ewing says he wanted to avoid farmers and crofters having to apply for the cash.

"I think farmers and crofters in Scotland have waited long enough."

The rural economy secretary insists the principles of convergence will be respected and the funding will be maintained in less favoured areas.

He adds he will also use some of the convergence funding for the voluntary coupled support schemes (VCS).

The VCS scheme aims to prevent abandonment of production and could affect other parts of the supply chain or associated markets.

"Today is to mark a victory for Scottish farming and crofting."

Mr Ewing confirms the first installment of £80m will be paid by the end of March 2020, with the remaining £80m to be allocated by the end of March 2021.

The approach to allocation is founded on two core propositions, he says:

1. Keeping true to principles of convergence
2. It will help those who need it most, specifically those who farm on marginal land

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Mr Ewing says following a six year campaign Scotland is getting its convergence funding at last.

The rural economy secretary adds he is delighted by this outcome, following pressure from the Scottish government, and farming and crofting organisations.

He praises the efforts of Jim Walker, the former NFU Scotland president.

Kevin Keane
BBC Scotland environment correspondent

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Upland and marginal farmers will benefit most from £160m of backdated subsidy for the agriculture sector.

The money is the first half of EU convergence funding which was meant to increase support levels in Scotland but was instead distributed across the UK.

Scottish ministers insist the new allocation adheres to the spirit of where the original money was intended.

But NFU Scotland said the funding allocation is a "missed opportunity" which is just plugging a funding gap.

Read more.

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Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing will now make a statement on convergence funding for farmers.

Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie says this debate is being held in the context, hopefully not by people in this chamber, that some people simply don't accept the reality of trans people's lives.

They don't accept that trans women are women or trans men are men, Mr Harvie points out.

He says it would be wrong for trans women to have to use men's services or facilities, or for trans men to have to use women's services.

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Ms Somerville agrees this debate must be carried out in a way that respects everyone's rights.

The minister adds that the Equality and Human Rights Commission's statutory code of practice says a single sex service should treat a trans man or trans women according to the sex they present.

That is unless there are strong reasons to the contrary, she points out.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith says the Equality Act is right to ensure competitive sport can be separated on the basis of sex.

Ms Somerville says the Scottish government is not planning to alter the Equality Act or its exemptions, including on sport.