Scotland axes net zero plans to slash car use by 20% as SNP admits targets were 'unrealistic'

The target was a previous SNP manifesto commitment aimed at cutting harmful emissions by reducing the kilometres travelled by car across Scotland.

However, car usage in Scotland has only fallen by 3.6 per cent since before the coronavirus pandemic.

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Hyslop told MSPs that the Government will introduce "more realistic targets" following advice from experts at the Climate Change Committee.

Speaking to Holyrood's Public Audit Committee, Hyslop confirmed the government would "need to drop the target, or change the target from 20 per cent".

She was responding to a direct question from Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson about whether the Government had abandoned the target.

The Transport Secretary stressed the Government will "still want to support car use reduction", but insisted the 20 per cent figure "is not realistic".

The MSP for Linlithgow acknowledged that "car use in Scotland is currently contributing significantly to carbon emissions, and that must change".

This follows the Scottish Government previously ditching its 2030 emissions reduction target.

In January, Audit Scotland and the Accounts Commission published a report highlighting serious concerns about the car reduction strategy.

The watchdogs, which oversee Scottish government and local government spending respectively, concluded there was a lack of leadership and "no clear plan" for reducing car usage, adding that Scotland was "unlikely" to meet the 2030 target.

It was following this critical report that Hyslop appeared before the Public Audit Committee to announce the target was under review.

The Transport Secretary indicated that ministers would seek advice from the Climate Change Committee on what a more achievable target should be.

Caroline Rance, Friends of the Earth Scotland's head of campaigns, called the development "shameful".

She said: "These are typically the poorest households, and poor public transport options means they are cut off from school, work and health appointments."

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Scottish Greens' transport spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP added: "Emissions from transport remain the largest source of pollution in Scotland, and private car use makes up a huge share of that."

The Government is now working with local government body Cosla and regional transport partnerships to implement recommendations made by Audit Scotland.

Cosla environment spokeswoman Gail Macgregor acknowledged shortcomings in their approach. "We know we're behind, there has been many factors to that," she told MSPs.