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The Scottish government has set itself a legally-binding target to cut greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045, five years ahead of the date set for the UK as a whole.

The Scottish government says its targets are "the toughest anywhere in the world".

MSPs voted to put down a "net-zero" target in law last September with the unanimous passing of the Climate Change Bill.

Ministers agreed to a Labour amendment to up the interim target, with members agreeing to target a 75% reduction by 2030, compared with 1990 levels.

However, a Green bid to increase this goal to 80% was heavily defeated.

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Mr Stark says: "The next decade is the important decade."

He explains the CCC is looking at a mixture of behaviours and technologies that will help cut emissions as quickly as possible.

The CCC chief executive says his organisation recommended the net-zero target and it has had signalling benefits.

Professor Keith Bell cites the importance of skills to allow the installation of heat pumps and of getting the education system in place to produce them.

The target of no new homes on the gas grid from 2024 in Scotland is very, very good, he adds.

The conversation must turn away from targets and onto actually meeting them, says the convener.

Chris Stark says the interim targets are a guide to net-zero but accepts the point, adding the CCC's focus will also start to shift away from targets towards actions being taken.

Labour MSP Claudia Beamish wonders about the 75% interim target, which exceeded the CCC's recommendation of 70% reduction to emissions by 2030.

"My worry is that it might be a bridge too far," replies Mr Stark.

He explains this is because some of the elements of achieving that target do not sit with the Scottish government and parliament.

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CCC senior analyst Tom Andrew says while the 2020 target is really important, the long term focus is really crucial.

That will allow us to see if any progress is being made in any real sense, he adds.

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Mr Ruskell asks about meeting the 2030 target, wondering what areas are not on the right trajectory and need more ambition.

Mr Stark says the keys will be land use and agriculture, as well as tackling transport.

He says we must cut the impact of transport, adding "we are driving excessively at the moment".

The biggest issue remains tackling the impact of domestic heat, still mostly driven by fossil fuel he says.

Mr Stark calls for a comprehensive strategy for decarbonising the heating of buildings and more investment in decarbonising heat, saying the £50m announced in the budget is a "good start" but "not enough".

Green MSP Mark Ruskell quotes the CCC as saying: "Talk of world leading targets is cheap."

Mr Stark does not shy away from ownership of the comment, replying: "It’s easy to set a target, it's much harder to meet it."

I am delighted we have a net-zero target of 2045 in Scotland, the CCC chief executive says.

However he adds what is needed now are the actions to move us swiftly towards meeting it.

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The Committee will hear from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) on its progress report, published in December 2019, Reducing emissions in Scotland – 2019 Progress Report to Parliament, external.

According to the CCC: "Overall, greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 3% in 2017, compared to a 10% fall in 2016.

"The fall was again led by the power sector, due in large part to Scotland’s first full year of coal-free electricity generation.

"Recent performance in other sectors shows only incremental improvement at best and, unless emissions reductions are delivered economy-wide, Scotland is at risk of missing its new interim target of a 56% reduction in emissions by 2020."

How significant is the peatland restoration announcement in the budget, asks the convener.

The Scottish Budget 2020/21, external commits to investing £250m over ten years in peatland restoration projects.

Chris Stark welcomes this, adding this is a "quick win" but alone it will not get us to net-zero.

"I would like to see more of those sorts of announcements coming through."

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CCC chief executive Chris Stark welcomes progress on coal but we need to look at a different set of stories. He says the budget is a good news story as it looks at other sectors.

The really big moment this year will be the update to the Climate Change Plan, Mr Stark adds.

Finlay Carson says greenhouse gas emissions only fell by 3% and the net measurement increased by 4%.

The Tory MSP asks if there is a bit of bravado here as meeting these targets will be difficult.

Mr Stark replies: "What's next will be really hard."

There are a set of really hard policy questions that will be difficult for Scotland to address, as some of the powers are reserved, he adds.

Convener Gillian Martin kicks off with a question on progress to date and the direction of travel on tackling climate change.

Chris Stark, chief exec of the CCC, says Scotland is beginning to do what needs to be done to get to net-zero.

His colleague Tom Andrew says in 2017 emissions were "roughly half" of what they were in 1990 but "almost all" of this is due to the power sector.

If Scotland is going to continue to make progress, transition needs to move to other sectors across the economy he explains.

In particular Mr Andrew expresses concern about the trend in transport going the wrong way, as it accounts for two-fifths of Scotland's emissions when including aviation and shipping.

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Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee convener Gillian Martin gets the evidence session on the Committee on Climate Change's annual progress report, external underway.

Giving evidence today are:

• CCC, external chief executive Chris Stark
• CCC member Professor Keith Bell, Member
• CCC senior analyst Tom Andrew

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Action across the economy is needed in the next 12 months if Scotland's new target for greenhouse gas emissions is to be met, a report has warned.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said Scotland's 2045 date for net-zero emissions was a "step-change in ambition" for the country.

It said Scotland now needed to "walk the talk" ahead of the COP26 summit.

CCC suggested ending sales of new fossil fuel cars by 2030 and supporting low carbon farming.

The independent government advisory body, external said the UK's presidency of next year's UN climate talks in Glasgow- known as COP26 - will rest on "real action at home".

• Read more here

The Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee will shortly take evidence from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), external.

The CCC is an independent, statutory body whose purpose is to advise the UK government and devolved administrations on emissions targets and report on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change.

MSPs will take evidence from:

• CCC, external chief executive Chris Stark
• CCC member Professor Keith Bell, Member
• CCC senior analyst Tom Andrew

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MSPs will then turn their attention to the Scottish Water investment plan, taking evidence from:

The Committee will take evidence from:

• Scottish Water , externalchair Dame Susan Rice
• Scottish Water chief executive Douglas Millican
• Scottish Water director of strategic customer service Professor Simon Parsons

Read the committee papers here., external

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9.30 am: MSPs take evidence from the Committee on Climate Change

2.05 pm Topical Questions

2.20-2.55 pm: Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee Debate: Assistance for Political Parties

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2.55-5 pm:Stage 1 Debate: Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill

5.05 pm: Members’ Business: Jackie Baillie – ENABLE Scotland Campaign, In Safe Hands?