ScottishPower Chief Executive Nick Horler has joined a new 2020 Delivery Group that is aiming to ensure that all sectors of Scotland's economy and civic society contribute fully to achieving the Climate Change Delivery Plan, which includes the target of a 42 per cent reduction in emissions over the next decade.

The group met for the first time at the Falkirk Wheel this morning (Tuesday 8th December) as the UN Climate Change Conference continued in Copenhagen.

Nick Horler, ScottishPower Chief Executive, said:

"ScottishPower is committed to having a central role in the creation of a low carbon economy in Scotland, and I am sure that the 2020 Climate Group will be a productive forum for developing ideas and driving innovation. In the last year, ScottishPower Renewables opened the largest onshore windfarm in Europe at Whitelee, near Glasgow and, at Longannet, we have made major breakthroughs in developing carbon capture technology with a prototype test unit that is the first of its kind anywhere in the UK.

“Innovative projects like these will help achieve the Scottish Government's ambitious climate change targets, as well as creating new industries with skilled jobs and benefits for the economy, and ScottishPower is determined to be at the forefront of this green revolution."

First Minister Alex Salmond said:

"There should be no doubt that climate change is the greatest environmental threat we face, so we must act now, and act together, to tackle it.

"And there should be no doubt about the commitment of the Scottish Government, Parliament and our private, public and third sector partners to tackling climate change. This new group brings together a wide range of expertise to examine in detail the actions needed across Scotland to meet our ambitious climate change targets.

"Not only does our climate change legislation have the most ambitious targets in the world, it includes a clear strategy to implement them and today is a key part of that.

"Our comprehensive climate change framework, including the world-leading emission reduction targets of 42 per cent and 80 per cent by 2020 and 2050 respectively, and the carbon assessment of our 2010-11 budget, provides a lead to other governments looking to Scotland as a model of international best practice."

Notes to Editors:

As well as Nick Horler, ScottishPower Chief Executive, the 2020 Delivery Group members are:

• Ian Marchant, Chief Executive, Scottish and Southern Energy
• Richard Ackroyd, Chief Executive, Scottish Water
• Lesley Ballantyne, Chief Executive, John Lewis Partnership Glasgow
• Prof Jan Bebbington, University of St Andrews
• Jo Bucci, Chief Executive, People's Postcode Lottery
• Brendan Dick, Director, BT Scotland (represented on December 8 by Anna Steven)
• Dr Campbell Gemmell, Chief Executive, Sscottish Environment Protection Agency
• Gordon Grant, Grangemouth Works General Manager, INEOS
• Ronnie Hinds, Chief Executive, Fife Council
• Graham Hutcheon, Operations Director, Edrington Group
• Josh Kane, Scottish Youth Parliament (represented on December 8 by Iain Fleming)
• David Lee, freelance writer and media consultant
• John Mason, Director, Climate Change & Water Industry, Scottish Government
• Ian McKay, Scottish Director, Royal Mail Group
• Dr Simon Pepper, climate change adviser
• Lady Susan Rice, Managing Director, Lloyds Banking Group Scotland
• Mike Robinson, Chairperson, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland
• Nicola Shaw, Managing Director, FirstGroup
• Grahame Smith, General Secretary, STUC (unable to attend on December 8)
• Brian Souter, Chief Executive, Stagecoach
• Michael Tracey, Managing Director, William Tracey Ltd
• James Withers, Chief Executive, NFU Scotland
• Jane Wood, Chief Executive, Scottish Business in the Community

The working remit for the 2020 group is to:

• build on the work of the Climate Change Business Delivery Group and other climate change alliances to provide strong, visible leadership to Scotland's business and non-governmental communities to inspire them to do more to reduce carbon emissions
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• help drive innovation through partnerships and synergies between members
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• advise on, and aim to make early progress towards, achievement of the outcomes and targets of the Climate Change Delivery Plan
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• identify relevant action and opportunities, and collaborate, to bring benefits to the Scottish economy
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• identify where the group can best target its resources and expertise to accelerate the development, investment and action required across the following areas: Heat, Electricity, Waste, Transport, Rural land use & forestry, Consumer behaviour & attitudes