Scottish lawmakers Wednesday backed a binding goal to cut greenhouse gases by 42 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, edging Germany into second place in a ranking of the most ambitious developed world targets. Developing countries have demanded that rich nations take the lead in fighting climate change. They have so far been unimpressed with plans which show big gaps must be bridged to agree a global treaty in December to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Scotland's bill included an option to curb its ambition if no strong global climate deal is reached in six months' time. Environmental campaigners nevertheless hailed the decision by Scotland, which has ample potential for low-carbon wind power, having derided targets proposed earlier this month by Japan and Russia. "At least one nation is prepared to aim for climate legislation that follows the science," said Kim Carstensen, head of the Global Climate Initiative of the WWF International environmental group.

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