Greenhouse gas emissions up but Scotland hits 2015 climate target

● Emissions rose 1.8% in 12 months ● Overall drop of 41% since 1990

Emissions of greenhouse gases in Scotland rose in 2015 but the annual climate target has been met, according to the latest official statistics.

A new report from the Scottish Government shows emissions in 2015 fell by 41 per cent compared to baseline levels in 1990, but rose 1.8 per cent from the previous year.

The increase has been attributed to a rise in emissions from road traffic, tree felling and households using extra fuel during a cold winter.

Total emissions, adjusted to account for the EU carbon trading scheme, were 45.504 MTCO2E (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent).

The fixed annual target for 2015 was 45.958 MTCO2E.

It’s the second time in a row Scotland has hit its annual target, after failing for four consecutive years.

There was a record 45.8 per cent drop in emissions in 2014, which surpassed the 42 per cent interim goal set for 2020.

The biggest cut in 2015 was in the energy supply sector, which saw a 12 per cent fall. This was largely due to a major cut in coal-fired generation.

Transport, which saw a 1.4 per cent emissions rise over 12 months, has now overtaken energy as the biggest emitter.

Climate change secretary Roseanna Cunningham said 0 Emissions from transport, housing and forestry rose in 2015 compared to 2014, but the country’s latest climate target was achieved for the second year in a row after four consecutive failures the country is “comfortably on track” to hit its 2020 target.

She added: “The statistics also show that we continue to outperform the UK as a whole, with our efforts to drive forward transformative change in our energy system clearly paying off.

“We always knew meeting our ambitious targets would be tough and that they bring a number of challenges, as well as opportunities.”

Unveiling the figures, she announced proposals for a new, tougher target that will demand emissions cuts of at least 90 per cent by 2050.

A public consultation on a proposednewclimatechange Bill is set to begin shortly.

Environmental campaigners welcomed progress but say action must be stepped up.

Jim Densham, from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: “We now need to build on the early successes to supercharge action on key areas.

“These include homes, farming and particularly transport, which is for the first time the largest source of emissions.”