Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland

rural-stats-release-2014

There are two measures of greenhouse gases presented in this release:

SOURCE EMISSIONS
A measure of the actual emissions or removals in Scotland. Includes international aviation and shipping. Used for UK and international comparisons.

Source emissions were 46.7 MtCO2e in 2014, which is a 39.5% reduction from 1990 and an 8.6% reduction from 2013.

ADJUSTED EMISSIONS: FOR REPORTING AGAINST TARGETS

Emissions adjusted to account for Scotland’s participation in EU-wide emissions trading are used to measure progress against targets.

Adjusted emissions were 41.886 MtCO2e in 2014, which is a 45.8% reduction from the Baseline Period and a 12.5% reduction from 2013.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 provides for a fixed annual targets for 2014 of 46.958 MtCO2e, which has been met. The Act also contains a 2050 target for at least an 80% reduction from baseline levels and an interim 2020 target for at least a 42% reduction. By 2014 a reduction of 45.8% had been achieved.

MtCO2e refers to million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is a consistent measure of assessing the contribution of greenhouse gases to global warming.

The Baseline Period uses 1990 for carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide and 1995 for hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride.

All figures have been revised since last year’s release to incorporate methodological improvements and new data.

Notes to editors

The data on Greenhouse Gas Emissions used in this release have been compiled for all Nations of the UK by a consortium of independent contractors. Further information on the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory can be found at http://naei.defra.gov.uk/about/

Further information on Scottish environment statistics can be accessed at

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment

Further information on Scottish economic statistics can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/

Official statistics are produced by professionally independent statistical staff – more information on the standards of official statistics in Scotland can be accessed at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/About

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