4. Comparison of key Scottish and UK transport emissions statistics
Carbon Account For Transport Volume 9, 2017
4. Comparison of key Scottish and UK transport emissions statistics
Figure 16 compares emission shares and performance in Scotland to the UK as a whole.
- In 2015, Scottish transport accounted for 9.0% of UK transport emissions excluding international aviation and shipping, and 8.2% including them.
- Scotland’s share of UK emissions from buses and coaches, rural roads and domestic aviation were higher in 2015 than Scotland’s share of total UK transport emissions.
- However, Scotland accounts for proportionally less than the UK as a whole for motorway and international aviation emissions.
- Total transport emissions fell -1.1% in Scotland between 1990 and 2015, while they rose 10.1% in the UK.
- However, removing international aviation and shipping shows a 0.4% rise in Scotland and a -1.5% fall in UK over the same period. The large rise in total UK emissions over the period is attributable to the growth in international aviation traffic.
| 2015 Emissions | 2014-2015 % Changes | 1990-2015 % Change | |||||
| Emissions are given in kt CO2e | Scotland | UK | Scotland as % of UK | Scotland | UK | Scotland | UK |
| Transport incl. IAS | 13,145 | 160,901 | 8.2% | 0.4% | 0.8% | -1.1% | 10.1% |
| Transport excl. IAS | 10,781 | 120,022 | 9.0% | 1.4% | 1.9% | 0.4% | -1.5% |
| Road Transport | 9,562 | 111,521 | 8.6% | 1.5% | 2.1% | 4.1% | 0.9% |
| of which: | |||||||
| Cars | 5,673 | 69,117 | 8.2% | 0.9% | 1.2% | -2.0% | -4.4% |
| HGVs | 1,727 | 19,647 | 8.8% | 2.2% | 4.5% | -3.5% | -4.0% |
| LGVs | 1,618 | 18,040 | 9.0% | 4.6% | 4.2% | 69.2% | 55.0% |
| Bus and coach | 467 | 3,680 | 12.7% | -3.0% | -4.0% | -21.7% | -29.9% |
| Motorcycles | 33 | 518 | 6.4% | -0.7% | 0.6% | -2.0% | -32.9% |
| Rural | 4,751 | 44,176 | 10.8% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 5.1% |
| Urban | 2,964 | 40,543 | 7.3% | 0.1% | 0.4% | -12.8% | -17.1% |
| Motorway | 1,789 | 26,109 | 6.9% | 0.7% | 3.5% | 59.8% | 35.3% |
| Rail Transport | 166 | 1,912 | 8.7% | -4.5% | -6.5% | 33.7% | -2.5% |
| Domestic Aviation | 623 | 2,975 | 20.9% | -0.1% | -0.6% | -22.6% | -44.8% |
| Total Aviation | 2,034 | 36,979 | 5.5% | 6.0% | 1.3% | 46.1% | 74.4% |
| Domestic Maritime | 334 | 3,045 | 11.0% | 3.5% | 3.5% | -42.4% | -17.4% |
| Total Maritime | 1,382 | 10,490 | 13.2% | -12.4% | -11.0% | -46.8% | -15.5% |
Source: National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory
Figure 17 breaks down UK emissions into its four constituent nations.
- In Scotland in 2015, total transport emissions including IAS were -1.1% below the 1990 baseline. This is a smaller proportional decrease than in Wales, but better than in England and Northern Ireland, where emissions have risen since 1990.
| Emissions are given in kt CO2e | Road | Rail | Domestic Aviation[17] | Total Aviation incl. IAS | Domestic Maritime | Total Maritime incl. IS | Total excl. IAS | Total incl. IAS | ||
| Scotland | Emissions | 2015 | 9,562 | 166 | 719 | 2,034 | 334 | 1,382 | 10,781 | 13,145 |
| % Change | 2014-15 | 1.5% | -4.5% | 0.6% | 6.0% | 3.5% | -12.4% | 1.4% | 0.4% | |
| 1990-2015 | 4.1% | 33.7% | -15.7% | 46.1% | -42.4% | -46.8% | 0.4% | -1.1% | ||
| England | Emissions | 2015 | 92,415 | 1,617 | 2,524 | 34,435 | 2,363 | 7,535 | 98,919 | 136,001 |
| % Change | 2014-15 | 2.1% | -6.8% | 0.0% | 1.0% | 2.9% | -11.4% | 1.9% | 0.9% | |
| 1990-2015 | -0.5% | -7.3% | -42.4% | 78.6% | -13.4% | -8.1% | -2.8% | 11.4% | ||
| Wales | Emissions | 2015 | 5,658 | 91 | 61 | 128 | 234 | 1,078 | 6,044 | 6,956 |
| % Change | 2014-15 | 1.9% | -6.3% | -3.1% | 3.4% | 9.0% | -6.9% | 2.0% | 0.4% | |
| 1990-2015 | 1.4% | 31.7% | -65.5% | -49.2% | -13.7% | -8.7% | -0.8% | -1.8% | ||
| N.Ireland | Emissions | 2015 | 3,885 | 38 | 240 | 381 | 115 | 960 | 4,278 | 5,264 |
| % Change | 2014-15 | 1.9% | -1.4% | 3.2% | 4.1% | 5.6% | -8.8% | 2.1% | -0.1% | |
| 1990-2015 | 32.1% | 52.9% | 3.4% | 33.7% | 5.7% | -5.8% | 29.4% | 23.3% | ||
Source: National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory