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 The climate change declaration by the Scottish Government, and supported by Scottish local authorities, is to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. In 2006, tailpipe emissions accounted for 25 per cent of all Scottish greenhouse gas emissions. Energy to provide our road infrastructure accounts for 16 per cent of cost and is mostly from carbon producing sources. Street lighting is important, providing a safe, secure night-time environment - but it consumes energy to do so. It's inevitable that our climate will change. Drier summers, warmer but wetter and windier winters and more extremes of weather will impact on our transport infrastructure.
 SCOTS supports Scotland's targets. Because the targets are demanding, it's important to look not only at major emitters but at all areas where CO2 emissions can be reduced. SCOTS recognises that the same infrastructure that facilitated growth in travel by private car is essential to travel by bus or bicycle; that a fit-for-purpose transport infrastructure is needed to support renewable energy generation in all parts of Scotland; that this will have to be balanced against other needs in economically challenging times; that the way we do things now will have to change.
SCOTS members and their authorities are major players in encouraging modal shift and active travel. SCOTS will continue to assist Government as it develops policy and strategy and offers appropriate advice to CoSLA and our members. There is increasing information becoming available to compare carbon emissions from construction activities. SCOTS is working with Transport Scotland to ensure that authoritative information is available to the profession. SCOTS is promoting discussion on the consequences of climate change for transport systems and the adaptation measures needed to minimize the impact. Our transport systems are so often taken for granted, so SCOTS will continue to heighten awareness of this asset that is vital to achieving the aims of Scotland's climate change declaration.
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