Government fails to reduce gas emissions

Published on Wednesday 27 May 2009 19:04

THE Scottish Government is failing to hit its own targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, figures have shown.

Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in Scottish Government buildings have gone up, and emissions from business travel have also increased.

But the government has hit targets for reducing waste and cutting water consumption.

The findings came in the latest annual report on the environmental performance of government buildings.

As the report was published, the government announced it had teamed up with the Carbon Trust to try to reduce its carbon footprint. It said the plan, which will cost 80,000 a year, has the potential to cut emissions by 20 per cent by 2014 compared with 2007 levels.

Climate change minister Stewart Stevenson said: "This government is determined to play a leading role in global efforts to reduce emissions. As part of our drive to create a greener Scotland, we must lead by example and put our own house in order."

The annual report showed energy use in government buildings increased by 2.5 per cent last year and were just 2.2 per cent below 1999 levels. One target requires government buildings to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 7,221 tonnes by March 2011, but the figure for last year was 8,082 tonnes.