Figures published by the Scottish Government on Tuesday show Scotland’s global greenhouse gas emissions rose in 2018.
Scotland must raise its game to help the world avoid the ever worsening impacts of climate change, campaigners have said after new figures showed the country’s carbon footprint has grown.
Figures published by the Scottish Government on Tuesday show Scotland’s global greenhouse gas emissions rose by 2.6 per cent from 68.7million in 2017 to 70.4m tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2018.
The publication, Scotland’s Carbon Footprint: 1998-2018, provides estimates of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis - meaning those associated with the spending of Scottish residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions arise, together with emissions directly generated by Scottish households.
Despite this, Between 1998 and 2017, Scotland’s carbon footprint fell by 30.5 per cent, from 101.3 MtCO2e in 1998 to 70.4 MtCO2e in 2018.
Scotland’s carbon footprint rose from 2004 onwards to a peak of 107.6 MtCO2e in 2007 before falling sharply in the following years and, with the exception of 2012 and 2018, has fallen each subsequent year.
The Scottish Government report said: “Scotland’s carbon footprint refers to estimates of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis.
“This refers to greenhouse gas emissions which are associated with the spending of Scottish residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions arise together with emissions directly generated by Scottish households, through private heating and motoring.
“These greenhouse gas emissions are often referred to as ‘consumption emissions’ to distinguish them from estimates relating to the emissions ‘produced’ within a country’s territory or economic sphere.”
The figures welcomed the downward trend, but said ministers need to make sure Scotland raises its game.
Fabrice Leveque, climate change policy manager at WWF Scotland, said: "These figures show that half of Scotland's carbon footprint comes from the products manufactured abroad and imported into Scotland. However it’s good to see that these have fallen between 2007 and 2018, alongside emissions produced in Scotland.
“This demonstrates the determined action by the Scottish Government, and governments abroad, to invest in low carbon sectors, such as renewables, is working.
“However the pace of these emissions cuts isn't going fast enough to meet global goals of the Paris agreement, and all countries, including Scotland, need to raise their game if we’re to avoid ever worsening impacts of climate change."
