This week we saw another programme for government outlined by SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. How much of this will actually happen remains to be seen, given the SNP’s track record in recent years, which is full of broken promises.

The commitment to tackle the climate emergency with legislation was welcomed by the first minister, with a clear recognition we need to go much further.

As the Scottish Conservatives’ shadow environment secretary, I am committed to working with the SNP Government on climate change but also holding them to account when they have failed to hit their targets.

On the issue of recycling, which is something I would encourage everyone across West Dunbartonshire to do their bit on, the SNP are on course to completely miss a key target.

The SNP set a commitment to recycle 60 per cent of household waste by next year. However, between 2011 and 2017 the percentage of household waste being recycled rose from 40.1 per cent to just 45.6 per cent.

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If this trend continues, it will take until 2032 to hit this target – which our communities can ill afford. The support must be given at local and national levels to encourage residents and firms to recycle.

On biodiversity, where they set 20 targets for next year in line with international guidelines, they are on course to meet just seven of them.

In order to protect species and our green infrastructure the SNP Government need to have a clearer focus on how they will protect biodiversity.

Moves such as the decarbonisation of our railways by 2035 and the commitment to pass a circular economy bill are positive moves, but the devil will be in the detail.

The Scottish Conservatives, led by myself, have our own environment paper with a raft of ideas to support the environment, including more incentives for electric car usage, backing calls for 10 per cent of the government’s capital budget to be spent on energy efficiency measures and calling for 75 per cent of waste to be recycled by 2035.

Protecting our communities from climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face as politicians and I will be playing a key role as the climate bill makes its way through Holyrood. We must ensure we get it right for future generations.