The Scottish Government has been urged to make its already ambitious proposals for tackling climate change even stronger.

Ministers have put forward proposals for a climate change bill, with a target of cutting emissions by 80% by 2050.

And while Oxfam urged the UK Government to match that target when it publishes its own legislation, a report from the charity called for Scotland to go further still.

The organisation published its Forecast for Tomorrow report examining the issue of climate change. In the past year the charity has helped in the aftermath of a number of "climactic crises" including floods in Africa, south Asia and Mexico.

The report said the proposals for a Scottish climate change bill, as they currently stand, "could result in Scotland having the most demanding statutory emissions reduction targets in the world".

It stated: "If the Scottish climate change bill targets remain as ambitious as currently proposed when the legislation passes through the Scottish Parliament the proposals will set a radical course compared with the commitments of others. But while the current proposals are already ambitious Oxfam believes they could be even stronger."

The charity suggested the legislation could go further by establishing a new Scottish climate change committee to advise ministers on the setting of emissions targets and to monitor progress in this area.

It also called for a climate fund for the public sector to be included, to provide incentives for the public bodies to make even greater emission sanctions.

The report stressed that for the Scottish bill to "retain its edge of radical realism" it must include emissions cuts that include all greenhouse gases, not just carbon dioxide, along with mandatory annual reductions in emissions of at least 3%.

Oxfam Scotland's campaigns manager Eilidh Whiteford also stressed the needs for annual cuts at this level.

She said: "Changes to climate are already hurting millions of the world's poorest people.

"Oxfam is dealing with more natural disasters year on year - floods, cyclones and storms are affecting on average over 250 million people a year.

"If the Scottish Government wants to play an international role in helping the lives of the poor people, their most important first step is to deliver a strong climate bill that inspires others to follow their example.

"We want them to at least honour their commitments to cut emissions by 80% by 2050 and introduce mandatory annual cuts of at least 3%."