Scottish minister to attend climate change summit

Mr Stevenson will be part of the UK delegation to the Cancun conference

Scotland's climate change minister, Stewart Stevenson, has been included in the UK delegation at this year's UN climate change conference in Mexico.

Last year, the UK government refused to allow Scottish ministers to be part of its official delegation in Copenhagen.

It argued then that it would negotiate for the UK as a whole.

But it has now been confirmed Mr Stevenson will join the UK team for the conference, which opens in Cancun on Monday.

Mr Stevenson has said he will use the opportunity to call for the international community to be more ambitious in its efforts to tackle climate change.

And he will argue that the transition to a low carbon economy is sensible, sustainable and ultimately unavoidable.

However, the Mexican government has already warned it is unlikely that a comprehensive deal will be secured in Cancun.

The Scottish government has set tough targets for a long-term reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland.

Earlier this year it said emissions had dropped by 21% since 1990, halfway towards its goal of a 42% reduction by 2020.