Scotland to raise emission reduction target to 66% by 2032

The Scottish Government has announced plans to increase its target for cutting emissions by 66 per cent – compared to 1990 levels – by 2032.

Scotland has already achieved its 2020 target of reducing emissions by 42 per cent, six years early.

Roseanna Cunningham, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, outlined the plans last week.

Last year, Scotland committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, also increasing its interim target to 50 per cent by 2020.

Scotland’s wind turbines generated more electricity than was required to meet the entire country’s energy demands for four days in a row at the end of December last year. 

The country’s renewable energy expertise is now being sought after all over the world, with Scottish businesses being involved in projects across more than 40 countries since December.

In addition to the new target, Scotland’s draft Climate Change Plan also includes:

• A fully decarbonised electricity sector based entirely on renewable energy sources by 2032, when Scotland’s last nuclear power station will close.
• 80 per cent of domestic heat will be provided by low carbon heat technologies.
• 40 per cent of all new cars and vans sold in Scotland to be ultra-low-emission by 2032, with 50 per cent of Scotland’s buses to be low-carbon.
• 250,000 hectares of degraded peatlands will be restored, which store a total of 1.7 gigatonnes of CO2 in Scotland.
• At least 30 per cent of Scotland’s publicly owned ferry fleet to be low-carbon, powered by hybrid engines.
• An increased annual woodland creation target to create at least 15,000 hectares per year

Cunningham said: “Our proposals for further deep cuts in emissions represent a new level of ambition which will help maintain Scotland’s reputation as a climate leader within the international community.”

Officials estimate that hitting that goal will cost annually about 2 per cent of Scotland’s GDP, which is worth about £147 billion a year to fund new offshore wind farms and marine energy plants as well as thousands of electric car charging stations and 1 million new home heating systems.

However, ministers urge that this investment will not only improve air quality but also save money through cheaper fuel and energy prices from better home insulation, reduce road accidents due to less congestion, save National Health Service (NHS) funds due to reduced premature deaths and boost economic output. 

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