Environment Statistics

Path through woodland

This section provides Environment statistics for Scotland together with commentary, metadata and links to sources of additional information. The Scottish Government collects few statistics on the environment, but does collate and publish statistics from various other sources.

Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2012 – includes a set of Excel tables with data and charts for all years. 

Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2011 – provides the first release of Scottish greenhouse gas emissions statistics for 2011.

Scottish Environment Statistics Online – online database – includes updates not included in the annual publications.

Statistics Topic

Featured High Level Trend

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In 2011, Scottish emissions 1 of the basket of six greenhouse gases are estimated to be 51.3 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO 2e). This is 9.9 per cent lower than the 2010 figure of 56.9 Mt CO 2e. Between 1990 and 2011, there was a 29.6 per cent reduction in emissions.

When emissions 1 are adjusted to take account of trading in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), emissions decreased by 2.9 per cent between 2010 and 2011 (from 55.893 Mt CO 2e to 54.252 Mt CO 2e). Compared with the 1990 base year 2, emissions in 2011 (after taking account of trading in the EU ETS) were 25.7 per cent lower.

The annual target for Scotland for 2010, as published in the Climate Change (Annual Targets) (Scotland) Order 2010, is 53.404 Mt CO 2e. The target is assessed using the adjusted emissions.

 

1. Includes emissions from international aviation and shipping.

2. The 1990 base year uses 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and 1995 for hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.

 

High Level Summary of Statistics Trends

Environment statistics in more detail

 

Publications – a list of all our environment statistics publications

Datasets - details of how to access environment datasets

Consultation - ScotStat – consultation on environment statistics

Related Areas and Links – associated areas on the Scottish Government website, and other key links for further information.

Contacts – our contact details 

Revisions – our revisions policy

Page updated: Thursday, June 06, 2013