Scotland's Carbon Footprint: 1998-2012

21st March 2015

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published Scotland's Carbon Footprint: 1998-2012. This publication provides estimates of Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions on a consumption basis; that is emissions that are associated with the spending of Scottish residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions arise together with emissions directly generated by Scottish households.

Key points

• Scotland’s carbon footprint fell by 6.3 per cent between 1998 and 2012, from 82.0 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 1998 to 76.8 MtCO2e in 2012.

• Scotland’s carbon footprint rose fairly steadily from 1998 to a peak of 94.3 MtCO2e in 2007 before falling sharply in the following years (coinciding with the recession) when it fell to 77.1 MtCO2e in 2009.

• In the latest year, Scotland’s carbon footprint rose from 72.9 MtCO2e in 2011 to 76.8 MtCO2e in 2012, an increase of 5.3 per cent.

The full statistical publication can be accessed at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/Publications/carbonfootprint9812

A carbon dioxide equivalent is a metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases on the basis of their global warming potential by converting amounts of other gases to the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide with the same global warming potential. Global warming potential describes the relative potency, molecule for molecule, of a greenhouse gas, taking account of how long it remains active in the atmosphere.

This statistical report meets the requirements under Section 37 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The data contained within this report are also used to inform National Indicator 47: "Carbon Footprint".

Published territorial emissions are available in the Official Statistics publication “Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2012”
http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2014/06/5527

Further information on Scottish economic statistics can be accessed at http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Economy/