On this page:

Key Scottish Environment Statistics 2008

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

Net Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Source R: 1990-2005

Net carbon dioxide emissions taking account of emissions and removals (Mt CO 2)

 Net Carbon Dioxide Emissions by SourceR: 1990-2005

(Million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) R

Sector

1990

1995

2000

2003

2004

2005 10

Energy supply

20.57

24.27

24.02

22.04

20.34

19.50

Agriculture, business, industrial processes and waste management

11.92

8.28

8.85

8.43

8.22

8.28

Public and residential

9.00

8.91

8.91

8.59

8.78

8.69

Transport 16

10.99

10.88

11.20

11.56

11.70

11.89

Net land use change & forestry

-2.54

-3.72

-3.94

-4.24

-4.65

-4.58

Total net emissions 11, 12, 13

49.95

48.62

49.04

46.38

44.40

43.79

It should be noted that improved data sources and estimation techniques have routinely led to revision of historic greenhouse gas emission estimates.

Carbon dioxide (CO 2) is the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The UK contributes about 2% to total global CO 2 emissions17. In 2005, CO 2 made up 85% of net greenhouse gas emissions in the UK (weighted by global warming potential8). Scotland's net emissions of CO 2 in 2005 were 43.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (around 8% of the UK total), a decline of 6.2 million tonnes from 1990 levels.

Energy supply is an important sector for CO 2 emissions in Scotland, generating CO 2 primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels. CO 2 emissions from the energy supply sector have decreased by 5.2% since 1990.

In Scotland, land use change and forestry, taken as a whole, acts as a carbon sink, absorbing more carbon dioxide than it releases. Estimates of emissions and removals from this sector are particularly uncertain since they depend critically on assumptions made on the rate of loss or gain of carbon in Scotland's carbon rich soils.

Source: AEA Energy and Environment15

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Page updated: Tuesday, August 19, 2008