Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions fell 1% in 2024 to an estimated 39 MtCO2e, but the rate of improvement slowed from a 1.9% drop in 2023. Most of the 2024 reduction came from changes in land use, while transport (including international aviation) and buildings saw emissions rise. The Scottish government remains committed to net zero by 2045 and has moved from annual targets to five-year carbon budgets, but campaigners say stronger and faster action is still needed.
Scotland’s Emissions Fall 1% in 2024 as Pace of Progress Slows
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New official figures show Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1% in 2024, but the pace of reduction has slowed compared with 2023. The country emitted an estimated 39 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) from the seven principal greenhouse gases in 2024 — a decline of 0.4 MtCO2e from the previous year.
Key Figures and Drivers
Overall change: Emissions were down 1% in 2024 versus a 1.9% fall in 2023, signalling a significant slowdown in annual progress.
Longer-term trend: Since 1990, Scotland has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 50.5%.
Main contributor to 2024 fall: Most of the reduction recorded for 2024 is attributed to changes in land use.
Sectors: Gains and Setbacks
While most sectors recorded modest reductions, some areas saw increases:
- Industry recorded the largest sectoral reduction (0.3 MtCO2e), mainly due to lower fuel use.
- International aviation and shipping rose by 0.2 MtCO2e as activity returned toward pre-Covid levels.
- Domestic transport and buildings saw small increases in emissions in 2024.
Policy Response and Targets
The Scottish government remains committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, five years earlier than the UK-wide 2050 target. After repeatedly missing annual and interim targets, ministers abandoned annual targets in 2024 and adopted five-year carbon budgets instead. The government aims to cut emissions by an average of 57% over the next five years, to reach a 69% reduction by 2035 and an 80% reduction by 2040, all compared with 1990 levels.
Campaigners’ Reactions
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland called the data a "stark confirmation" that action has been "nowhere near strong enough or fast enough." Fraser Sutherland, the group's coalition manager, warned that climate impacts — from storms and floods to droughts and wildfires — are already affecting health, livelihoods and finances across Scotland.
Catrina Randall of Friends of the Earth Scotland described the modest reduction as a "missed opportunity," saying ministers have not done enough to expand public transport or improve home energy efficiency to cut bills and emissions.
Consumption-Based Footprint
Separate statistics show Scotland’s consumption-based carbon footprint — emissions linked to the spending of Scottish residents on goods and services worldwide plus direct household emissions — rose by 1.6% between 2021 and 2022. However, on a longer timeline the consumption-based footprint fell by 17.5% between 1998 and 2022.
What this means: The figures underline that while long-term progress has been substantial, recent annual momentum has weakened. Achieving the 2045 net-zero goal will require accelerated policy measures across transport, buildings and other sectors.
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