The Scottish Government has missed its emissions reduction target again. 

Figures released by the government today reveal there was a 50% drop in emissions between 1990 and 2022, falling to 40.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

The target for emissions reduction, as laid out in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act, was 53.8%, and the latest figures.

It means nine of the past 13 targets have now been missed.

The missed target comes after the Scottish Government scrapped its interim target of reducing emissions by 75% by 2030 earlier this year – describing it as “out of reach”.

(Image: Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing, Economy, Net Zero and Energy Mairi McAllan. Image from PA)

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Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan pointed to Scotland’s emissions reducing further than the rest of the UK with England’s emissions dropping by 49%, Wales by 36.5% and Northern Ireland by 25.9%.

She said: “These figures confirm that between 1990 and 2022, Scotland has achieved the largest reduction in emissions of any nation of the UK, led by significant decreases in emissions from electricity generation, waste and industry.

“At the same time our economy has grown by 67% in real terms, demonstrating that tackling climate change and growing our economy go hand-in-hand.

“While this is good news, the emissions figures for the year 2022 alone reflect a similar picture to that of UK data overall and underline the scale of our vital but challenging task.

“We are now in the second half of our journey to net zero and our 2045 target is one of the most ambitious in the world. Action on climate change will require a genuine transformation across our economy and society, with significant changes in sectors such as heat in buildings, transport, energy and agriculture.”

The minister added that the Government is working “determinedly” across industries.

(Image: Image of Alex Cole-Hamilton from PA)

However Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the Government had “pumped out press releases but failed to do the hard graft”.

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The Scottish Government have now been warned it may lose credibility if it continues to miss climate targets.

Liz Murray, the head of Scottish campaigns at Global Justice Now, said: “This missed target is yet more evidence that the Scottish Government is not doing enough to meet the urgency of the climate crisis.

“Its credibility on this is in serious jeopardy, both here and internationally.

“We need to see it urgently tackling the basics here in Scotland – like insulating homes and bringing in zero carbon district heating schemes.”

Mike Robinson, chairman of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, added: “These results illustrate the failing that we and many others – including the Government’s own climate advisers, the Climate Change Committee – have been highlighting for several years, and action continues to be particularly lacking in heating, transport, and agriculture.

“The longer action to cut emissions is delayed, the greater the risks, higher the costs, and the longer people in Scotland miss out on the benefits of warmer homes, lower energy bills and cleaner air.”