Scotland is leading the UK in greenhouse gas emissions reductions, but much more needs to be done to ensure future targets are met, according to a new report for the Scottish Government published today by the Committee on Climate Change. The report reveals that Scotland’s annual emissions reduction target for 2014 was met, with gross Scottish greenhouse gas emissions, including international aviation and shipping, falling by 8.6% in 2014. This compares to a 7.3% fall for the UK as a whole. Since 1990, gross Scottish emissions have fallen nearly 40%, compared to nearly 33% at a UK level. There has been good progress in deploying renewable electricity generation capacity in Scotland, and excellent progress in installing community and locally-owned energy projects (meeting the target for 500 MW of capacity five years early). However, to meet Scotland’s ambitious targets beyond 2020, much more will be required, says the CCC’s report. Whilst emissions have fallen by an average of 3.3% per year since 2009, this has been mostly due to progress in the power sector with reduced coal and expanded renewable generation. Other sectors now need urgent attention.
Scottish Energy News 13th Sept 2016 read more »
BBC 13th Sept 2016 read more »