Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2013

This publication aims to provide an easily accessible reference document which offers information on a wide range of environmental topics. It covers key datasets on the state of the environment in Scotland, with an emphasis on the trends over time wherever possible. The data are supplemented by text providing brief background information on environmental impacts, relevant legislation and performance against national and international targets.

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Adjusted to Take Account of Trading in the EU Emissions Trading SystemR,9,19: 1990-2011

Greenhouse gas emissions taking account of emissions trading (MtCO2e)11

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Adjusted to Take Account of Trading in the EU Emissions Trading System: 1990-2011

It should be noted that improved data sources and estimation techniques have routinely led to revision of historic greenhouse gas emission estimates. All data has been revised to reflect these changes.

The European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS) is the largest multi-country, multi-sector, company-level, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission trading system world-wide. When trading in the EU ETS is taken into account, Scottish GHG emissions, including international aviation and shipping, fell by 2.9% between 2010 and 2011 (from 55.893 MtCO2e to 54.252 Mt CO2e). Compared with the 1990 base year20, such emissions in 2011 were 25.7% lower.

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets a statutory framework for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in Scotland with a reduction target of at least 80 per cent by 2050 and an interim reduction target of at least 42 per cent by 2020, both reductions against the 1990 base year20. The Act also requires Scottish Ministers to set annual targets for emissions and the Scottish Parliament has passed legislation setting annual targets to the year 202721,22. The 2011 target is 53.404 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). The Scottish Government also set a short term Sustainability Purpose target within the National Performance Framework to reduce emissions by 2011, compared with a 2006 baseline. Compared with 2006, Scottish emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases showed a 5.861 MtCO2e reduction, a 9.8 per cent decrease.

In accounting for trading in the EU ETS under both the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and the short term Sustainability Purpose target, the approach taken is to set contributions from Scottish installations in the EU ETS equal to Scotland's share of the UK's EU ETS cap23 (Scotland's cap).

Source: National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory17 / Scottish Government18 / Metadata

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Email: Callum Neil

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