The Scottish government is set to deliver a ministerial statement at Holyrood on Thursday following a report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC), which deemed the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 unattainable.

Having missed eight of the past 12 annual targets, Scotland’s broader plans have been deemed “beyond what is credible” by independent experts.

While ministers and government officials have refrained from commenting on the potential weakening of ambitions, multiple sources anticipate a shift in direction.

This is a huge setback and follows Rishi Sunak’s backtrack, leaving the UK far behind its European counterparts in working towards Net Zero.