Employee carbon footprint: EIR release

Information requested

The carbon footprint created by employee commuting in each of the past five years broken down by mode of transport used.

Response

	tonnes of CO2e	tonnes of CO2e	tonnes of CO2e	tonnes of CO2e
	2019/20	2020/21	2021/22	2022/23
Bus	683	22	192	141
Rail	911	26	226	323
Car	5484	170	1524	1128
Motorcycle	31	1	9	6
Taxi	7	0	2	2
Total	7116	219	1952	1600

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. Therefore we are refusing part of your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs. The reasons why that exception applies are explained below.

The Scottish Government started measuring commuting carbon in the 2019/20 reporting year. Data before this date is not available. Data for 2023/24 financial year is still being compiled.

This exception is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exception. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exception. While we recognise that there may be some public interest in information about employee commuting, clearly we cannot provide information which we do not hold.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.