Question reference: S6W-01607
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 21 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 18 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what implications the proposed Cambo oil field would have for its ability to meet its climate targets, and what action it is taking to ensure that Scotland is on track to achieve its target of net-zero emissions by 2045.
Answer
Scotland’s devolved statutory climate targets are based on reporting through the Scottish component of the UK greenhouse gas emissions inventory, which is compiled in line with UN scientific reporting guidelines. Within the UK-wide inventory, emissions arising from the combustion of fossil fuel products are counted against the relevant nation, but those emissions arising directly from offshore oil & gas activity are not allocated to individual devolved administrations.
The First Minister’s recent letter to the UK Prime Minister sets out that the international picture is also vitally important, in particular the leadership role that governments such as Scotland and the UK offer. At a global scale, the scientific evidence provided by the IPCC clearly indicates that it is crucial that countries across the world must takes this opportunity to significantly raise global climate action and ambition if the goals of the Paris Agreement are to be met.
In terms of action to reduce emissions across all parts of Scotland’s economy as part of a just transition to net-zero by 2045, the Scottish Government’s updated Climate Change Plan (published in December 2020) sets out a comprehensive package of policies and proposals to deliver on this ambition over the period to 2032. We are focussed on implementing these policies.