Question reference: S6W-03832
- Asked by: Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Date lodged: 19 October 2021
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 15 November 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its announcement that it will end overseas trade support focused on purely fossil fuel goods and services from 1 November 2021, what data it has on the Scottish oil and gas sector’s progress in transitioning towards net zero emissions by 2045.
Answer
Emissions data for offshore oil and gas is part of the UK Government’s Greenhouse Gas inventory and is therefore required to decarbonise by 2050. Only refinery and onshore emissions data is part of Scottish Government’s inventory.
We recognise that countries around the world cannot continue to maximise economic recovery of fossil fuels if the Paris aims are to be met. As the First Minister said last week our focus will now be on achieving the fastest possible just transition for the oil and gas sector - one that delivers jobs and economic benefit, ensures our energy security, and meets our climate obligations.
That is why we have committed to undertaking a programme of work to better understand Scotland’s energy requirements as we transition to net zero and how this aligns with our climate change targets. We recognised that our vision and roadmap for the energy sector can’t happen in isolation - a Just Transition Plan for Energy will be at the heart of our refreshed Energy Strategy, publishing as one coherent document in 2022. The principle underpinning it will be the one already encapsulated in our Co-operation Agreement - that unlimited extraction of fossil fuels, or maximum economic recovery in UK policy terms, is not consistent with our climate obligations.