SCOTTISH NATIONAL Party ministers are this week being challenged to solve the problems that plague their environmental policies on pollution, transport, waste and wildlife.

A powerful coalition of all Scotland's major environmental groups is urging the new Scottish government to cut carbon emissions, reduce car and air travel, ban large incinerators and stem the loss of wild plants and animals.

In a report to be released tomorrow, to coincide with the opening of the new parliament, Scottish Environment Link sets out its vision for Scotland in 2011. "A new government brings new opportunities for action," declared Link's chair, John Mayhew.

"Our challenge to this government is to show leadership in tackling climate change, resource depletion and the loss of species and habitats that threaten to unravel the ecosystems on which this planet and all our futures depend."

Link is an umbrella group of 34 different organisations, including the National Trust, WWF and Friends of the Earth.

On climate change, the report urges the SNP-led Executive to introduce statutory annual targets ensuring that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by at least 3% every year.

The SNP are committed to making reductions on that scale, but have backed off including mandatory annual targets in the forthcoming climate bill.

Dr Dan Barlow, head of policy at WWF Scotland, argued that climate change was the most serious problem facing the world. "Scotland's environmental credibility rests on the parliament rising to the challenge and ensuring the climate bill requires cuts in climate pollution year-on-year," he said.

"However, the government will have to resolve current policy contradictions where support for greater car use and more flying undermine meaningful progress to tackle climate change."

The Link report calls for the growth in road traffic to be halted, for bus and rail fares to be capped and for action to boost walking and cycling. On wildlife, the report calls for intensified conservation and increased funding to prevent the erosion of biodiversity.

The Executive defended its plans to set targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions over five years, pointing out that progress would have be reported to parliament every year.

On road traffic, a spokeswoman said the Executive "will continue to encourage people out of their cars". On aviation, however, she described ministers' policy as "a balanced approach which recognises the economic, social and environmental impact of aviation".

The Scottish Green Party has lodged a motion in the parliament welcoming the report. "There are some great ideas here, including many which we have been campaigning for and on which the government could act tomorrow," said the Green MSP Patrick Harvie.