The Scottish Government measures its carbon footprint by gathering data on energy use, transport, and agriculture, applying emission factors to estimate total greenhouse gas emissions using a bottom-up approach.
Scotland generates most of its electricity from renewables, with wind power playing a leading role. Offshore and onshore wind farms, such as those in Moray and the Firth of Forth, have significantly cut reliance on fossil fuels, reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation.
Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) is another key area of progress. The Acorn Project at St Fergus aims to capture CO₂ from industrial processes and store it in depleted North Sea reservoirs. This will help decarbonise industries that are difficult to electrify, such as manufacturing and refining.
Scotland is also advancing low-carbon transport. The Orkney Islands use surplus wind energy to produce green hydrogen, powering ferries and transport as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.
Despite progress, transport, agriculture, and buildings still have high emissions. Scotland's carbon footprint from oil and gas production, specifically from the North Sea, is around 14.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2021, representing a reduction of 21.5% since 2018.
In 2024 an Edinburgh court sided with campaigners and climate experts in ruling that the original decisions to permit development of Rosebank and Jackdaw, gas fields in the North Sea were unlawful, as they had not taken into account the carbon emissions created by burning any oil and gas produced. Shell and Norwegian firm Equinorre will submit their applications again with updated downstream emissions.
Additionally, the global carbon footprint associated with imported goods which has been decreasing still highlights the need for stronger supply chain sustainability efforts a well. Combining renewable energy, carbon capture, and innovative technology, will allow Scotland to make meaningful contributions to reducing its global carbon footprint.
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