Government action

Governments can adopt a range of policy measures to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including:

  • increasing energy efficiency standards
  • encouraging the use of renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar power)
  • eliminating subsidies that encourage the use of coal and oil
  • protecting and restoring forests that serve as important storehouses of carbon

Scottish Government are proposing an 80% reduction in emissions in the Scottish Climate Change Bill and are developing an Climate Change Adaptation Framework for Scotland:

The UK Government has developed policies and measures to cut emissions of greenhouse gases, and to adapt to the impacts of climate change: