WIREDGOV

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2008.

All figures include emissions from international aviation and shipping except where stated. The publication includes adjusted emissions that take into account trading through the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and show progress against targets.

The main findings are:

• In 2008, Scottish emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases are estimated to be 56.1 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2e). This is 3.0 per cent lower than the 2007 figure of 57.8 Mt CO2e. Between 1990 and 2008, there was a 20.0 per cent reduction in emissions
• When emissions are adjusted to take into account of trading in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), emissions reduced by 3.7 per cent between 2007 and 2008 (from 57.5 Mt CO2e to 55.3 Mt CO2e). Compared with the 1990 base year, emissions in 2008 (after taking account of trading in the EU ETS) were 21.2 per cent lower

Unadjusted emissions:

• Between 2007 and 2008, there were decreases in greenhouse gas emissions of 12 per cent from international aviation, 6 per cent from energy supply, 4 per cent from the business and industrial process category, 3 per cent from agriculture, and 2 per cent from transport (excluding international aviation and shipping). There were, however, increases in emissions from some other categories, including 7 per cent from the public category, 5 per cent from international shipping, 4 per cent from residential and 4 per cent from waste management
• The overall decrease in emissions is primarily due to differences between 2007 and 2008 in the type of fuel used to generate electricity (with a reduction in the use of coal and an increase in nuclear, renewables and gas) combined with lower fossil fuel consumption by industry and by the transport sector. Annual changes in emissions from the public and residential categories are more closely linked to changes in weather
• Since 1990, emissions from transport (excluding international aviation and shipping) have increased by 7 per cent with emissions from international aviation and shipping increasing by 20 per cent. The largest absolute reduction was for the business and industrial process category at 4.6 Mt CO2e, a 37 per cent reduction. Others categories with significant reductions are waste management down 3.0 Mt CO2e (52 per cent reduction), energy supply down 2.9 Mt CO2e (13 per cent) and agriculture down 2.2 Mt CO2e (22 per cent). Net removals from land use, land use change and forestry increased by 2.0 Mt CO2e; 78 per cent more than removed in 1990
• Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas, accounting for around 79 per cent of Scottish greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 when Scottish emissions of carbon dioxide were estimated to be 44.4 Mt CO2. This was 3.5 per cent lower than the 2007 figure of 46.0 Mt CO2. Carbon dioxide emissions have fallen by 15 per cent since 1990 and non- CO2 emissions (methane, nitrous oxide and F-gases) have fallen by 34 per cent since 1990

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