Scotland wants to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 42% within the next decade

Dec 9, 2011 11:45 GMT  ·  By
Scotland plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 42% within the next 10 years
   Scotland plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 42% within the next 10 years

Fighting pollution and raising air quality is never a cost-effective process. Scotland is now fully aware of this fact, since a new study issued by Audit Scotland highlights that it will have to come up with almost £11bn (€12.8bn/$17.2bn) to minimize its carbon footprint within the next decade.

Recent reports note that if Scotland is keen on greening up its name and infrastructure, it would have to pay more than pocket change, the Guardian reports.

The amount of money is somehow justified, since it could support an ambitious goal: reducing the greenhouse gas emissions by 42% during the next ten years. At this point in time, the government can't say for sure where this considerable financial support will come from, but it is certain that there already exists an “intense pressure” to go green.

Moreover, is seems that Scotland is on the right path and ready to implement these changes; lack of appropriate funds appears to be the only major bump in the road to a sustainable future. So far, this nation has managed to reduce its GHG emissions by up to quarter, compared to the values displayed in 1990.

Despite this encouraging news, the reports indicates the recession is behind these low pollution rater, rather than an improved eco-conscious attitude.

However, transportation has real chances of showing signs of progress, according to the author of this report.

“To meet the 2020 target new policies will need to be delivered successfully, especially in transport. The challenges will be that much greater over the next few years when the pressures on Scotland's public sector finances are likely to increase,” notes Robert Black, the general auditor.

The strategy of raising air quality is welcomed, especially since UK government and European Union are adopting stricter climate regulations, aiming to tackle the effects of climate change.

Scotland has all the right reasons to curb harmful emissions since it currently has 0.07% of the world's overall population, and the percentage of pollutants is more than double reaching 0.15%.

Not only taxpayers' money will contribute to new projects aiming to reduce air pollution, since the government committed to collecting funds from the public sector.

So far, it appears that £680m (€797m/$1bn) will cover a series of eco-friendly projects, meant to increase energy-efficiency and exploit low-carbon alternatives.

"The £11bn (€12.8bn/$17.2bn) is pretty much what we have been working on all along. It is in line with the advice that we had from the UK committee on climate change,” notes Stewart Stephenson, Scotland's environment minister.