MSPs are to create a dedicated citizens assembly on tackling climate change.

Holyrood is expected to pass a last-minute Green amendment to the Scottish Government’s climate change emissions Bill when it comes to its final parliamentary vote tomorrow.

The move to give the public more say in the process follows an electrifying and emotional speech by climate campaigner Greta Thunberg excoriating politicians for their inaction yesterday.

The 16-year-old, whose solo protest outside the Swedish parliament last year started a global wave of climate strikes, told around 60 world leaders: “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words”.

Addressing the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, she said politicians had ignored the science of climate change for 30 years, and would not be allowed to continue.

She said: “This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean, yet you all come to us young people for hope.

READ MORE: Climate Strikes: Thousand set to gather across Scotland in largest environmental protest in history 

“We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth - how dare you.’”

She concluded: “We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up, and change is coming whether you like it or not.”

The new citizens assembly would be separate from, and in addition to, current Scottish Government plans for an assembly on largely constitutional issues this winter and next spring.

The proposal would oblige ministers to create a new panel of people “representative of the general populace if Scotland” with independent conveners.

It would consider “how to prevent or minimise, or remedy or mitigate the effects of climate change” and recommend hot to cut carbon emissions.

It would then report to the parliament and Scottish Government before March 2021, with ministers obliged to respond within six months.

The idea is understood to have the support of the SNP, meaning there will be enough votes for it to become law.

The LibDems and Tories have opposed the SNP’s original Citizens Assembly, arguing it is a Nationalist front for independence.

However a stand-alone assembly on climate change is less controversial, and it is understood LibDem MSPs will support the Green plan.

The Climate Change Bill sets a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2045, with a 70 per cent reduction by 2030.

However there are criticisms that this is not fast enough. Labour are pushing for a 75% reduction in emissions by 2030, while the Greens want 80%.

The SNP are under particular pressure to go further since Nicola Sturgeon declared a climate emergency at her party conference in May.

The Citizens Assembly proposal was tabled by MSP Mark Ruskell after Extinction Rebellion protestors chained themselves to the outside of the Scottish Parliament to demand far more “radical” action on climate change.

READ MORE: Neil Mackay: If we really want to save theplanet, do we need to put up with more Thomas Cooks? 

Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: “In June Extinction Rebellion challenged each of the political parties. The Greens were challenged to deliver a climate emergency citizen’s assembly.

“It’s vital that we get people’s voices into the debate about how we tackle the climate emergency, so I’m delighted that my colleague Mark Ruskell has been able to bring forward proposals to deliver this.

“Last Friday thousands of young people walked out their classes to take part in the climate strike, highlighting the imminent threat posed by the climate crisis.

“It’s important we listen to these young people and allow them, along with a representative group of people from across Scotland, to feed into our response to this existential crisis.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland said a dedicated Citizens Assembly on climate change was “definitely worthwhile”.

A spokesperson said: “It’s great to get the public involved in the decision making but to really have an impact they need to decide what to do with the outcomes of it. For example, what weight will the Assembly conclusions hold and where in Parliament will they come to?”

Ahead of the vote on the Climate Change Bill, protesters will today gather outside Holyrood to read from the UN report about the impact of a 1.5C temperature rise to push MSPs to cut emissions by 80% for 2030.

Patrick Dunne, from 1.5 Degrees Live, said: “We are doing this to remind politicians about the huge impact and importance of their decisions.

“We will be stating that ‘we have read the science, have you?”

Caroline Rance from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, added: “Wednesday’s vote is the final chance for this Scottish Parliament to ramp up their ambition and put targets into law that reflect the urgency of the Climate Emergency.

“This means setting a target to reduce climate emissions by 80% by 2030 and setting out coherent and immediate policy changes to deliver those reductions – especially in how we heat our homes, travel around and grow the food we eat.

“Action taken in the next ten years is crucial because the climate crisis is happening now. It will take a united effort from all political parties to secure the changes required.”