THE climate-change target has been missed for the second year in a row, official figures reveal.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland in 2011 exceeded the revised target of 53.4 mil-lion tonnes, reaching 54.2 mil- lion tonnes.
The SNP Government said it is still on course to meet the long-term goal of a 42% emissions reduction by 2020.
Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse is facing calls to come before the Scottish Parliament to explain why the target has been missed.
Labour environment spokeswoman Claire Baker said: "The SNP continually herald their climate-change targets as world leading, so to fail to meet them for the second year in a row is deeply embarrassing for this government.
"Last year they blamed it on a Scottish winter being cold. This time, despite a 'better' winter, the target was still missed by almost one million tonnes.
"The Scottish Government must now return to Parliament before the summer recess to fully explain why this target was missed and what action they will take."
Mr Wheelhouse said: "Despite changes to the historical data on emissions, making this year's target harder to achieve, we have come within touching distance of it."
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