The two-year-old promise to compensate for harmful emissions from travel by ministers and officials in the Scottish Government has not been met and there is no plan to do so.
The two-year-old promise to compensate for harmful emissions from travel by ministers and officials in the Scottish Government has not been met and there is no plan to do so.
The administration is not able to say how many miles have been travelled by car or by air, and is yet to figure out a way to offset the damage caused to the environment by carbon emissions.
The promise was made in April, 2006, by the then Labour/LibDem administration led by Jack McConnell, and remains part of the SNP government's strategy for cutting carbon emissions.
According to the Scottish climate change report published by the Scottish Government this week, the process of recording miles began two years ago.
But asked how much carbon emission had been measured from extensive use of ministerial cars and from officials flying frequently to London and Brussels, a St Andrew's House spokesman was unable to say.
Patrick Harvie, the Green MSP for Glasgow, said carbon offsetting is not an effective way of tackling the impact of travel, and that it would be better for ministers and officials to travel sustainably, including more use of public transport, while cutting back on unnecessary journeys.
He said the Scottish climate change report shows "a list of things they are doing that are little steps in the right direction, but there are big steps in the wrong direction".
"The idea you can have a document like that without mentioning aviation is absurd," added Mr Harvie.
He also pointed to the approval in principle for the expansion of Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, and work on the M74 extension through south-east Glasgow, which is due to start next week in a ground-breaking ceremony by First Minister Alex Salmond.
By contrast, a survey published earlier this month found large British companies intend to cut back on business travel, and to make more use of video conferences.
The climate change report showed a reversal of the reductions in Scottish emissions between 1990 and 2005, with an 8% rise in 2006 put down to an increase in the use of coal-burning electricity generation.
The report said there are also plans to publish an independent economic assessment of the impact on Scotland of reaching an ambitious target of cutting emissions by 80% by 2050.
A public opinion survey has been commissioned, for publication in October this year, and a climate change adaptation strategy is to be published early next year, which could include proposals that will be hard to sell politically.
According to the report: "Climate change touches on every aspect of our lives. It cannot be tackled through any one action, but instead it lies at the heart of many of our daily decisions and lifestyle choices.
"While many people are concerned about climate change, there is still a gap between this concern and any action. We are taking steps to address this."
