Scotland’s Carbon Footprint 1998-2021

Table 1 outlines how the Carbon Footprint has been categorised for this publication

Figure 2 shows Scotland’s carbon footprint, broken down into three main components, from 1998 to 2021.

• Greenhouse gas emissions embedded in imported goods and services from overseas accounted for 53.4 per cent of Scotland’s carbon footprint in 2021, up from 37.1 per cent in 1998.
• Greenhouse gas emissions embedded in UK produced goods and services accounted for 27.0 percent of Scotland’s carbon footprint in 2021, down from 44.9 per cent in 1998.
• Greenhouse gas emissions directly produced by Scottish residents accounted for 19.6 percent of Scotland’s carbon footprint in 2021, up from 18 per cent in 1998.

Figure 2: Emissions embedded in imports have shown considerable volatility over the period.  Domestic sources of emissions have been much more stable with a generally reducing trend.

Scotland’s Carbon Footprint, by main component, 1998 to 2021. Values in MtCO2e

Additionally, Figure 2 shows that:

• Greenhouse gas emissions associated with imported goods and services increased from 27.4 MtCO2e in 1998 to their peak of 37.5 in 2007 (an increase of 36.7 per cent over this time period). These emissions accounted for 45.9 per cent of Scotland’s carbon footprint in 2007.
• Between 2007 and 2021, greenhouse gas emissions embedded in imported goods and services fell by 15.8 per cent; this compares with a 15.1 per cent increase in emissions embedded in imports over the whole time period from 1998 to 2021.
• Greenhouse gas emissions relating to the consumption of UK produced goods and services by Scottish residents fell from 33.1 MtCO2e in 1998 to 16.0 in 2021 - a fall of 51.8 per cent. There was a year-on-year fall in greenhouse gas emissions from this category over the majority of years in the time period, particularly in years after 2007.
• Greenhouse gas emissions generated directly by Scottish residents have fallen from 13.3 MtCO2e in 1998 to 11.6 MtCO2e in 2021 - a fall of 12.8 per cent over this time period.

Figure 3: In total, the carbon footprint fell by 14.7 MtCO2e (19.9 per cent) between 1998 and 2021.

Change in Scotland’s Carbon Footprint between 1998 and 2021 in MtCO2e and percentage changes

Figure 3 shows that between 1998 and 2021:

• Greenhouse gas emissions from Scottish consumption of UK production has seen the greatest absolute reduction over this time period (17.2 MtCO2e; a 51.8 per cent reduction), reflecting the emissions-reduction in territorial emissions seen in Scotland and the rest of the UK over this period.

• Greenhouse gas emissions embedded in imports directly used by Scottish consumers have increased by 4.3 MtCO2e ( a 45.3 per cent increase).

• Emissions embedded in imports used by UK businesses for Scottish consumption have decreased by 0.1 MtCO2e (a 0.57 per cent decrease)

• Greenhouse gas emissions generated directly by households (via heating and personal transport) have decreased by 1.7 MtCO2e (a 12.8 per cent decrease)

Figure 4: Scotland’s carbon footprint rose by 7.5 MtCO2e ( 14.6 per cent) in the latest year.

Change in Scotland’s Carbon Footprint between 2020 and 2021 in MtCO2e and percentage changes

Figure 4 also shows that between 2020 and 2021:

• Embedded emissions in imports directly consumed in Scotland rose by 1.7 MtCO2e ( 13.9 per cent).

• Emissions embodied in Scottish consumption of UK production rose by 0.77 MtCO2e ( 5.1 per cent).

• Emissions embedded in imports used by UK businesses for Scottish consumption rose by 4.0 MtCO2e ( 28.9 per cent).

• The level of emissions directly generated by Scottish households rose by 1.1 MtCO2e ( 10.2 per cent).

Figure 5: Around 46.6 per cent of embedded emissions associated with the consumption of goods and services in Scotland, originate from the UK.

Sankey diagram of embedded emissions sources related to Scottish final consumption in 2021.

Additionally, Figure 5 above shows:

• Imported emissions account for around 53.4 per cent of total consumption-based emissions; with the European Union, China and Rest of World (excluding other named areas) being the largest sources.
• A majority of imported emissions are indirectly consumed by Scottish households and other final demand sectors in the form of components and raw materials used within UK businesses.
• Households, including third sector organisations, account for the overwhelming majority (around 70.1 per cent) of consumption-based emissions.
• Central and Local Government combined account for 18.0 per cent of consumption emissions; and capital investment and other types of capital formation accounting for a further 11.9 per cent of total consumption-based emissions.
•  

Figure 6: Over a quarter of embedded emissions in imports originate from the European Union in 2021.

Breakdown of Scotland’s embedded greenhouse gas emissions by region of import, 1998 to 2021. Values in MtCO2e

• The most striking aspect of the above chart relates to the very rapid increase in embedded emissions from China between 1999 and 2007, followed by rapid reductions in the two years immediately afterward.
• Embedded emissions from the European Union have generally risen each year since 2011, with a marked increase in 2021.