Biggest rise in Scotland’s carbon footprint in 20 years

Figures released by the Scottish Government today (8 April) show that Scotland’s carbon footprint has jumped 15% in a single year, from 2020 to 2021. This is the biggest annual increase since records began 23 years ago.  

Scotland’s carbon footprint measures the carbon emissions of our economic activity in Scotland, including all the goods and services we consume, as well as the emissions from our travel and heating. 

Most of the increase came from consumption of imported goods. The emissions from these imported good aren’t measured under climate targets, but there are plans to bring in consumption targets as part of the new circular economy law which was passed last year. Campaigners say strong consumption targets are crucial to reduce our carbon footprint. 

Before the pandemic, emissions had been slowly falling. They fell more sharply during the pandemic due to the impact on global supplies This is the first data to be released since then, and its shows that in 2021 emissions bounced back higher than pre-pandemic levels. 

Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “The rise in Scotland’s carbon footprint is alarming. This massive jump in our emissions, taking us back to pre-pandemic levels, shows that adequate action is not being taken. The climate crisis is a global problem, and reducing our emissions from imported good is essential to make a real impact in reducing the harm being caused to many people.  

“The circular economy law was passed last year, which is an opportunity to finally get a grip of this problem and reduce our carbon footprint. The Scottish Government must reverse the rise in emissions by putting strong consumption targets at the heart of its circular economy strategy. Recognising the important of materials and global supply chains in our policy plans is the only way to ensure that Scotland reduces its global environmental impact.”  

Scotland’s carbon footprint rose from 52 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 to 59 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.