Scotland fails to meet emissions targets

Scotland has missed its greenhouse gas emissions targets for the fourth year in a row, the Scottish Government announced today.

While emissions fell by 3.6 per cent between 2012 and 2013, faster than the UK reduction of 2.3 per cent, the official figures confirm that the target has been missed.

In 2013, Scottish emissions were estimated at 53.0 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). The adjusted target was 47.9 MtCO2.

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Meanwhile the Government said Scotland is more than three quarters of the way towards achieving its world-leading target of a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020, with emissions falling 14 per cent between 2012 and 2013.

Emissions fell by 38.4 per cent from the 1990 baseline against which targets are measured. The Government pointed to changes in the way that emissions are measured, meaning that meeting the targets requires far greater cuts than the 31.7 per cent originally set by the Scottish Parliament in 2009.

Climate Change Minister Dr Aileen McLeod will give a statement in the Chamber later today in which it is expected to announce a further package of climate change action.

Tom Ballantine, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “Today's figures are disappointing but show that the target was within reach.  To ensure Scotland meets all of its targets going forward the Scottish Government needs to announce significant new policies.  Greater action on climate change will let us build a healthier, fairer society and a stronger economy.

“We'll be watching carefully this afternoon to judge the ambition of Ministers' future plans.  In particular the transport sector has had a free ride so far and the Scottish Government must get serious about tackling emissions from cars and planes.  We already have good policies for insulating people's homes but they must go much further if we're to tackle fuel poverty, create jobs and build a better Scotland.”

Climate Change Minister Aileen McLeod said: “Today’s figures show that if it had not been for successive increases to the baseline since the targets were established, Scotland would have met, and exceeded, our target for this year - and the three previous years too.

“Of course, if our targets were easy to achieve they would not be ambitious enough. And these are the level the international community needs to meet if the international climate treaty to be agreed in Paris later this year is to stand a good chance of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius.”

McLeod added: “Today’s figures also demonstrate how significantly Scotland’s progress depends on the policies and actions of others – especially the UK and EU. In the run up to Paris, I will continue to press the international community to look to Scotland and follow our example in striving for the highest global ambition to tackle climate change.”