A Scottish Greens MSP has warned it is “absolutely inevitable” that Scots will eventually be charged to use roads as a key measure to encourage more people to use public transport.

Mark Ruskell told The Scotsman the strategy was unavoidable as part of Scotland’s climate strategy, but warned it would only be effective if it was backed up with investment and improvements to public transport.

SNP net zero secretary Mairi McAllan has delayed her updated climate change plan. The blueprint was thrown into more doubt after she was forced to admit that Scotland would not be able to meet its legal target to cut emissions by 75 per cent by 2030, following a damning assessment by independent advisers, the Climate Change Committee.

Mr Ruskell said “you can’t leave sectors like transport and agriculture sit to one side”, highlighting the two key parts of the economy lagging behind on climate process. The Greens MSP pointed the finger directly at former SNP rural affairs secretary Fergus Ewing, whom he claimed “absolutely stood in the way of change”.