‘Meagre’ climate stats show lack of urgency from Ministers

Climate campaigners have said the latest pollution figures for Scotland show politicians are “missing opportunities to improve lives” as we take necessary climate action.  

The statistics for 2024 showed a “meagre” 1.0% reduction in climate pollution, well below the previous legal targets to cut emissions. Most of this fall is due to changes in land use.  

These annual figures show an increase in pollution from transport – both in terms of domestic transport and international aviation. Emissions from buildings also rose over the period. 

The Scottish Government scrapped its annual targets in 2024, after years of failure by Scottish Ministers to deliver the action needed to move away from fossil fuels.  

Friends of the Earth Scotland’s just transition campaigner Catrina Randall said: 

“These missed targets to cut climate pollution are missed opportunities to help improve lives for people in Scotland. They mean Ministers have failed to help more people move around by public transport and failed to fix homes so that they aren’t leaking energy and costing a fortune in bills.  

“A meagre 1% change makes clear that the Scottish Government have not been treating dangerous planetary heating with either the urgency or the energy it requires.  

“The new Parliament is an opportunity to recommit to climate solutions and deliver transformative action that can tackle the cost of living, boost our health and create long term green jobs.”