Net Zero Primed, Targets and Projects

Net Zero Primed

As Scotland transitions to a Net Zero future, it must be emphasised that reaching this goal will require wholesale changes in our processes and functions. Currently, however, while we will aim to reduce our scope 3 emission as much as practically possible, there remains limitations as to what can be decarbonised as technologies and policies are still developing.

Carbon sequestration, through tree planting on our estate, will therefore form a major element of our journey towards Net Zero and our aim to being “Net Zero primed” by 2025. While woodland creation will be vital to this, the majority of the work and cost associated with its development occurs long before any carbon capture. Through the Woodland Carbon Code, we will have our planting programmes independently assessed and receive “Pending Issuance Units”, which represent a “promise to deliver” Woodland Carbon Units (a tonne of CO₂e sequestered in WCC-verified woodland) in the future.

As these projects are measured over decades, we cannot claim an offset until any sequestration potential has been independently verified. With this in mind, we will be transparent with the amount of emission we will produce and the amount of future Woodland Carbon Units we will require.

As the offsetting associated with corporate Scope 3 will therefore not be fully matured by 2025, we will essentially establish a “Net Zero Primed Emissions Overdraft” based on our scope 3 sources, with a view to compensating for emission associated with our corporate business from 2025 and future emissions from this date onward.

Any scope 3 emission within the “overdraft” cannot be removed until a PIU has been converted to a verified WCC credit, both balances will be reported via our Public Bodies Climate Change duties reporting.

In addition to tree planting the potential for further carbon sequestration opportunities on our estate will also be reviewed.

Emission targets

Setting measurable, achievable, and realistic targets against a timeline relies on credible data. We have set the following Corporate Emission targets:

• By 2025, Transport Scotland's Scope 1 emissions will be zero;
• By 2025, Transport Scotland's Scope 2 emissions will be Net Zero;
• By 2025 identified Scope 3 emissions will be Net Zero primed, with an associated target of 15% reduction (for Scopes 2 & 3) by 2027;
• By 2045, Transport Scotland's Scope 'i' emissions will be Net Zero.

The offsetting associated with corporate Scope 3 will not be fully matured by 2025, however planting projects conducted by the agency, will not only offset emissions once full maturity and verification/validation are complete, they will also offset historical emissions produced by the agency from 2025 onwards – This will be measured via our public bodies climate change duties reporting.