The Committee on Climate Change's 2018 Progress Report to the Scottish Parliament shows that Scotland's total emissions fell by 10 percent in 2016, compared to 2015 with the lion's share of the latest drop in emissions coming from electricity generation.
"Scotland is performing well on reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to the rest of the U.K., and met its annual legislated target for 2016," the report said. "Overall, Scottish emissions are now 49 percent below 1990 levels, and Scotland is on course to outperform the interim emissions reduction target for at least a 56 percent reduction in actual emissions by 2020."
According to the report's findings, 17.8 percent of Scotland’s total energy came from renewable sources in 2016, outperforming the U.K. overall and ahead of the EU average of 16.7 percent.
- Transport biggest sectoral challenge
The report noted, however, that Scotland's progress in reducing emissions from the power sector masked a lack of action in other areas, particularly transport, agriculture, forestry and land use. Emissions from transport have increased each year since 2010, with a further percent increase overall in 2016, according to the report.
"Emissions from agriculture, forestry and land use also present substantial challenges, relying on voluntary measures for agriculture as well as uncertain funding for targets for tree planting and peatland restoration," the committee found. It called on the government to move beyond the current voluntary approach to tackling nitrogen emissions and develop new targets, alongside soil testing and monitoring.
Low-carbon heat, transport, agriculture and forestry sector policies need to improve in order to hit 2032 emissions targets, the committee added, referring to the Scottish government’s ambition to cut emissions from road transport – phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles by 2032. The goal was announced last year.
Chairman Lord Deben acknowledged the progress made by the Scottish government on tackling issues raised in the committee's previous report in 2017.
"Decarbonization of Scotland’s electricity sector, and reductions in emissions from waste, have seen Scotland outperform the U.K. overall as emissions continue to fall year-on-year to nearly half of 1990 levels.
"However, challenges remain. Achieving a 90 percent cut in emissions by 2050 [compared to 1990 levels], as envisaged within the new Climate Change Bill, means greater effort is now required across other areas of Scotland’s economy," he said.
Deben pointed out the necessity for implementing policies to drive down emissions in sectors where they are either flat or rising, such as transport, agriculture and energy efficiency in buildings. "Without real action in these areas, Scotland may fall short of its long-term goals," he said.