Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2013

Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2013

This publication provides estimates of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland for the years 1990 to 2013. Except where stated, the emissions figures shown in this release include an estimate of emissions from international aviation and shipping.

The release also provides information on the performance against emission reduction targets, taking account of trading in carbon units. These targets are prescribed in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 1990 to 2013. Values in MtCO₂e

• In 2013, Scottish emissions of the basket of seven greenhouse gases are estimated to be 53.0 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e).
• This is 3.6 per cent lower than the 2012 figure of 54.9 MtCO₂e, a 2.0 MtCO₂e decrease.
• Between 1990 and 2013, there was a 34.3 per cent reduction in estimated emissions. Section A states what the greenhouse gases are and how they are categorised. Section B contains results in more detail. The main contributors to this reduction have been a fall in waste management and in energy supply emissions (such as in the production of electricity).
• When emissions are adjusted to take account of trading in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), emissions decreased by 14.0 per cent between 2012 and 2013 (from 57.8 MtCO₂e to 49.7 MtCO₂e). Section C provides information on what the EU ETS is and what it means for Scotland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions statistics.
• Compared with the Baseline Period^[1], emissions in 2013 (after taking account of trading in the EU ETS) were 38.4 per cent lower. Section A contains more information on how the Baseline Period is defined and Section C contains results in more detail.

The annual target for 2013, as published in the Climate Change (Annual Targets) (Scotland) Order 2010, is 47.976 MtCO₂e. The target is assessed using the adjusted emissions (49.725 MtCO₂e) in 2013.

Note that as part of this release all of the figures have been revised since the previous publication in June 2014, to incorporate methodological improvements and new data. Comparing the 2013 figures with the 2012 figures published a year ago will therefore give a different year-on-year percentage change; one which is incorrect and should not be used. Details of these revisions can be found later in this statistical release in Section D.