Executive Summary
Executive Summary
The Carbon Account for Transport (CAT) provides a balance sheet for Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions due to transport.
This is the twelfth edition of the CAT and provides analysis of transport emissions for the period between 1990 and 2018. The key findings from volume 12 are illustrated in the infographic summary below.
Transport accounted for 35.6% of Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2018.
Scotland’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2018 were 41.6 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). Transport, including international aviation and shipping, accounted for 14.8 MtCO2e.
2018 marks the first year since 2013 that emissions have decreased in Scotland, with the previous four showing a gradual upward trend.
Scotland’s transport emissions in 2018 were 1.1% lower than in 2017, and 0.5% lower than in 1990.
Car was the most emitting transport mode in 2018.
Cars accounted for 39% of Scotland’s transport emissions in 2018. Goods vehicles contributed 25%, aviation and shipping accounted for 15% and 16%, respectively, and other transport modes accounted for 5%.
Road transport, aviation and rail emissions decreased between 2017 and 2018, while shipping emissions increased.
Road transport emissions fell in 2018, with car, HGV, LGV and bus emissions all lower than in 2017. Aviation emissions were also lower than in 2017.
Shipping emissions saw the largest percentage increase.
Between 1990 and 2018, LGV emissions saw the largest percentage increase of all transport modes.
Aviation and rail emissions also increased substantially over this period.
Shipping emissions saw the largest percentage decrease of all transport modes, with bus emissions also falling.