Alex Salmond and the Scottish Government have set a target to reduce the total carbon emissions in the country by 80 per cent.

The government hopes this can be achieved by 2030, delivering a promise to reduce emissions in the electricity sector by up to 50g of carbon dioxide per kWh.

To put this in perspective, the emissions in Scotland for 2010 were approximately 374 g per kWh from electricity grid activity.

The plan is a huge positive for the environment, but the First Minister of Scotland may have put the country at odds with the rest of the UK by setting a target to reach, whereas Westminster has avoided doing so.

“Having stated our ambition for a largely-decarbonised electricity supply by 2030, the Scottish Government is now setting a specific target to guide our overall policy approach and set the context for decisions on applications for electricity generation,” Mr Salmond said.

He added: “We will now consult with stakeholders on the implementation of this ambitious target. I join the industry, again, in urging Westminster to follow suit.”

Mr Salmond is conscious of the global responsibility to tackle climate change, and with the provision of wind and wave power at the country’s disposal, he believes reducing carbon emissions is a realistic vision for the country to achieve.

However, on a more local scale, households can make their own carbon reducing efforts by installing solar panels to their property. Not only would this have benefits for the environment, but energy bills can be made less destructive to the bank account.

Installation doesn’t even need to be a cost concern, with the newly introduced Green Deal helping households and businesses install energy saving features such as solar panels by offering subsidies and favourable loans.

Profits can also be made via the feed in tariff, as electricity generated can be fed back into the National Grid in exchange for a cash reward.