This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Climate change emissions continue to fall
13/11/2006
Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 16 per cent since 1990, according to figures announced today.
Net emissions of the main greenhouse gas - carbon dioxide - have fallen by 14 per cent since 1990, more than any other part of the UK and 14 of the 15 EU member states.
Webcast - Environment Minister Ross Finnie - It's Our Future
The greenhouse gas inventory for Scotland shows a steady decline in the emissions which contribute to climate change. During this period, the EU had an overall increase in emissions.
Speaking from the Climate Group Event at the UN Climate Change talks in Nairobi, Kenya, Environment Minister Ross Finnie said:
"Scotland takes climate change seriously. Our global contribution to greenhouse gas emissions may be small but the effect of climate change on developing countries, including many in Africa, could be catastrophic.
"Small countries, states and regions have an important role in building momentum towards a concerted international response. That is why I am delighted that today's figures demonstrate that Scotland is taking the lead in tackling climate change.
"In Nairobi this week I will seek to build on the action we are taking internationally and I hope that Scotland's achievements and actions may inspire others to recognise that by working together we can make a difference."
Background
The Scottish Environment Minister is at an event in Nairobi to coincide with the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
All Scotland's local authorities are expected to commit to a common statement of intent to respond to the challenge of climate change.
The Minister addressed a meeting of representatives of international States and Regions and outlined Scotland's position in tackling climate change.
Webcast - Environment Minister Ross Finnie - It's Our Future
The three other speakers were:
- Claude Bechard, Minister of Sustainable Development and Parks, Province of Quebec
- Esther Larrañaga, Minister for the Environment and Land Use Planning, Basque Region
- Linda Adams, Secretary, California Environmental Protection Agency
The Nairobi event is a follow-up to the the Climate Leaders Summit in Montreal in 2005 which brought together the heads of government of federated states and regions and major corporations from around the world to present their best greenhouse gas reduction initiatives and demonstrate the economic and social benefits associated with these innovative practices.
As a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UK is required to submit an annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. Disaggregated inventories have been produced for the years 1990, 1995 and annually since 1998 to provide detailed emissions data for the constituent countries of the UK. The disaggregated inventories for 2004 were produced by the National Environmental Technology Centre (NETCEN) for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the devolved administrations.
Main findings of the 2004 disaggregated inventory are:-
- Emissions in Scotland fell by around 3 million tonnes from 17.4 MtC (million tonnes of carbon equivalent) in 1990 to 14.6 MtC in 2004
- Emissions in Scotland in 2004 fell by 5% compared with 2003 emissions, mainly due to a fall in emissions from coal fired power stations
- However, road transport emissions continued to rise
Deriving the numbers in the inventory is a complex process and these include varying degrees of uncertainty. It should be noted that improved data sources and estimation techniques have routinely led to revision of historic greenhouse gas emission estimates.
The full report can be found on the NETCEN website at http://www.naei.org.uk/report_link.php?report_id=419 from noon on 13 November 2006.