Greenhouse gas emissions statistics 2022: Ministerial statement

Thank you very much Presiding Officer. The First Minister has made tackling the climate crisis one of his top priorities. 

The reasons are well rehearsed, but we must always remind ourselves why this is so critical.  

The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are among the greatest global challenges of our time. Action to address the scale and pace of the emergency is an environmental imperative, a moral necessity, an economic opportunity, and a top priority for this government.  

It is against this background that I update Parliament on the latest progress on Scotland’s statutory climate targets.  

Presiding Officer, Official Statistics published yesterday, show that Scottish emissions in 2022 have reduced by 50.0 per cent since 1990. This is a reduction of 0.1 per cent on our position in ‘21 and means we are exactly halfway to net zero.   

Using comparable metrics, we can see Scotland has made the largest emissions reduction in the UK between the 1990 baseline and 2022, reducing by 50.1 per cent, while emissions in England fell by 49 per cent; followed by Wales at 36.5 and Northern Ireland at 25.9 per cent.  

Scotland has also decarbonised much faster than the EU27 average using comparable EU statistics.   

Despite this, today’s statistics mean we have not made the 2022 target of a of 53.8 per cent reduction from the baseline.  

Now some sectors saw significant reductions in 2022, including buildings, and there were more modest reductions in agriculture and industry. But there was a rise in transport emissions, particularly international aviation and shipping, resulting from a rebound following COVID-19.    

The 2022 data from the UK - they reflect a similar picture. Once UK data is adjusted to include international travel, which is routinely included in Scottish but not UK data, the UK also showed a 0.1 per cent decrease in 2022 and Scotland still outperforms the UK. And certain sectors have led that decarbonisation in Scotland. Electricity supply emissions have fallen by 88.1 per cent, industrial emissions by 56.8 and waste management emissions by 75.4 per cent on baseline.  

We were among the first to take early bold action, and we are continuing to lead in responding to the climate crisis.   

Indeed 63 per cent of new woodland in the UK was created here in Scotland between 2022 and 2023 – more than the other UK nations combined. And Scotland is becoming a renewable powerhouse – with more of our electricity generation coming from zero carbon sources than ever in 2022.  

Presiding Officer, we are now in the second half of our journey to net zero. It is more challenging and we are abundantly clear on the need to empower individuals, communities and businesses in that journey. Indeed, in Scotland, we have enshrined in law both the need to achieve net zero by 2045 and so in a way that is fair.  

Reaching net zero is mission critical. There is no doubt of that. But we must guard against underplaying the magnitude of what’s actually required to achieve it. Regrettably, in political discourse, some voices underplay the necessity of tackling climate change, whilst others underplay the complexity of doing so and neither of these serve us well. And from me, Presiding Officer, Scotland will always have wholehearted commitment to delivering what we need to do to address the emergencies, and a determination that the transition be planned, well managed and see our people benefit.  

And in Scotland, I must make clear, our task is more difficult because we lack the full powers. 

For example, we know that whilst our economy will ultimately benefit from decarbonisation, the upfront cost of net zero is significant. And independent analysis by the Scottish Fiscal Commission tells us that the cost is particularly high for Scotland.  

Despite this, the UK Government has instituted a real-terms cut to our capital funding of almost 9 per cent over 5 years. This is utterly wrongheaded and must be reversed.    

Similarly, there are critical areas where the UK Government hold the power over Scotland and only they can act – but at this critical moment they are failing to do so - in technologies like carbon capture and storage and in decarbonising buildings or transport at the pace required.  

Presiding Officer, I hope that the new government at Westminster will show greater commitment to climate change and I will work with Ministerial counterparts to achieve progress. But we will not settle on hope alone. 

This is why, despite the exceptional budgetary pressures on Scotland, in this financial year alone, we are committing £4.7 billion for activities that will positively impact delivery of our climate goals.  

It’s why legislation is completing its Parliamentary passage this week will drive forward climate progress.  

This includes the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill which passed at Stage 3 yesterday. Scotland’s farmers, crofters and land managers already play a critical role in cutting emissions And this Bill will allow them increase their contribution while continuing to produce world renowned food sustainably.  

Likewise, the Circular Economy Bill, currently at Stage 3, will provide the legislative framework to develop a circular economy, alongside powers to set local recycling targets and a new code of practice for waste and recycling service. This builds on Scotland’s strong record in reducing waste emissions, where the total amount of waste going to landfill has nearly halved over the past decade, and the overall recycling rate is at its highest level since records began in 2011.  

These Bills, passing now, demonstrate the Government is acting now to make the change necessary. But we know, continual challenge and progress is what the climate emergency demands of us.  

And so we are always looking forward, including to the complex matter of heat in buildings.     

Our New Build Heat Standard currently means that no buildings constructed under a building warrant, from 1 April 2024, will have polluting heating systems.      

And we recently consulted on bold proposals to end the use of polluting heating systems after 2045 and to introduce a minimum energy efficiency standard for all homes. Responses to our plans for a Heat in Buildings Bill – which the Climate Change Committee said could be a template for the rest of the UK are currently being analysed ahead of confirming next steps.  

Presiding Officer, climate change requiring everything, everywhere all at once, as Antonio Gutteres puts it, is why, on top of all of this work, on 18th April I also announced a new package of climate policies. These included that:  

• we will publish a new route map for delivery of approximately 24,000 additional EV charge points by 2030 with support for rural areas and lower-income groups 
• planning for an integrated ticketing system for all modes of public transport 
• in agriculture, taking forward a pilot on methane supressing feed products and additives.   
• and this autumn, publishing our route map to 20% reduction in car use, supporting Local Authorities to take action appropriate in their area.   

This is just some of what the government is doing and is not to mention our Biodiversity Delivery Plan, Marine Protected Areas, Land Reform Bill, our Onshore Wind Sector Deal, our Hydrogen Action Plan and the Strategic Investment in Offshore Wind we’re currently making which is up to worth up to £500 million over 5 years.  

As I have previously said in this Chamber, the Scottish Government recognises the Climate Change Committee’s analysis this year, and in 2019, that the interim 2030 target, set by Parliament on a cross-party basis, is beyond what can be achieved.  

I was not in Parliament at the time, but I share the view expressed by all parties then, that setting an interim target beyond what was believed to be achievable has emphasised the importance of the journey, and has helped to accelerate action in the meantime. It has certainly done that. Since 2019 we have:  

• launched the world’s largest floating offshore wind leasing around Scotland;  
• moved to ban some of the most problematic single use plastics  
• we’ve restored around 75,000 hectares of degraded peatland  
• created four Low Emission Zones 
• deployed the most comprehensive network of public electric vehicle infrastructure in the UK, outside of London 
• designated 37 per cent of our waters as Marine Protected Areas and  
• Internationally, helped to break a 30-year impasse on funding for Loss and Damage.  

But just as any good climber will not be fixed on one route to a summit, we must be prepared to try new paths if experience demands it. The summit remains our goal. I will not allow it to be jeopardised by committing to a pathway that is not feasible.   

That is why I confirmed on 18th April that this Government would bring forward legislation as soon as practicable, to ensure that our emissions pathway takes us to 2045 on basis of the latest advice from the Committee.   

Today’s statistics reinforce what the CCC have confirmed to us in recent correspondence. Namely, that annual emissions and targets, are highly susceptible to unexpected events. Our route to 2045 needs to be receptive to the non-linear realities of long-term decarbonisation.   

Consequently, our legislative proposals on a new emissions reduction framework will include establishing  five-yearly ‘Carbon Budgets’. As the CCC recently set out to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, annual fluctuations are smoothed within multi-year budgets, which, therefore, provide a more reliable indicator of progress.  

We’re working with Parliamentary authorities to ensure the Bill is introduced as soon as possible after recess and have begun engaging with the convener of the Net Zero Committee to support his committee’s scrutiny of the Bill. Thereafter we will work towards our next Climate Change Plan, founded on the CCC’s advice, on a revised pathway to 2045 for Scotland.   

Presiding Officer, we have now reduced our emissions by 50 per cent from the 1990 baseline and the Government is resolutely focused on the next 50 per cent and to achieving Net Zero. Thank you.