Listen
Drop in greenhouse gas emissions
18/09/2007
Emissions in Scotland have fallen by more than 15 per cent since 1990, according to latest data published today.
A 12.5 per cent fall in carbon dioxide emissions in Scotland is around double that of the UK average decrease of 6.4 per cent.
Other findings from Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2005, show that:
- Emissions in Scotland fell by around 2.7 million tonnes from 17.6 MtC (million tonnes of carbon equivalent) in 1990 to 14.9 MtC in 2005
- Scottish emissions accounted for 8.3 per cent of UK net emissions in 2005
- The highest emitters are energy supply, transport and business. Energy supply emissions have fallen by 10 per cent since 1990. Transport emissions have risen by 11 per cent since 1990. Business emissions have fallen by 22 per cent since 1990
The Scottish Government will consult on a Climate Change Bill including proposals for an emissions reduction target of by 80 per cent by 2050.
Speaking at a climate change conference in Edinburgh, Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said:
"I am in no doubt about the scale of the challenge we face to combat climate change and cut emissions. This latest data illustrates the breadth and depth of action that is required.
"We all need to make efforts to cut energy and water use, reduce waste and reduce travel emissions. For our part, the Government will invest in public transport infrastructure and support actions to develop green and renewable energy technologies.
"Alongside this, we will consult on a Scottish Climate Change Bill, including a mandatory target to achieve an 80 per cent reduction in Scottish emissions by 2050. That will signal to the rest of the world the importance that Scotland's Government, and people, place on tackling climate change."
While the accuracy of the data used in the regional inventories is improving year on year, the regional estimates are subject to greater uncertainty than the equivalent UK estimates. Uncertainties arise due to uncertain or unavailable regional data.
Improved data collection and estimation techniques lead to revisions of historic data making it inappropriate to use data from previous inventory reports as a comparison.
As a party to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UK is required to submit to the UNFCCC an annual inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. UK inventory data from 1998 onwards has been disaggregated to provide detailed emissions data for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Published figures for carbon dioxide emissions from Scottish sites in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme indicate an increase of some 1.2 Mt C equivalent between 2005 and 2006, principally from power stations. This is expected to result in an increase in Scottish emissions between 2005 and 2006 which will be reflected in next years inventory