Climate change in Scotland

<h2 id="greenhouse-gas-emissions">Greenhouse gas emissions</h2>

Scotland's <a href="/facts/Greenhouse_gas_emissions/Cu9nXPHE">greenhouse gas emissions</a> only accounted for 10% of the UK's emissions<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a> in 2003, when figures were published. 37% of Scottish emissions are in energy supply and 17% in transport. Between 1990 and 2007, Scottish net emissions have reduced by 18.7%.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a> The industrial processes sector had the largest decrease, of 72% with a reduction of 48% in the public sector trailing closely behind.

<h2 id="impacts-on-the-natural-environment">Impacts on the natural environment</h2>
<h3>Temperature and weather changes</h3>
In Scotland, the effects of climate change can be seen in raised <a href="/facts/Temperature/QyGe4gmj">temperature</a> changes, increased rainfall and less snow cover. These changes have a significant impact on the growing, breeding and migration seasons, as well as <a href="/facts/Species_abundance/yKCawbee">species abundance</a> and diversity.

<h3>Ecosystems</h3>
Past observations have indicated some of the likely <a href="/facts/Effects_of_climate_change/M5EvHf14">effects of climate change</a> on biodiversity. <a href="/facts/Climate_change/rEN4BDE7">Climate change</a> has already changed timings of spring events such as leaf unfolding, bird migration and egg-laying. The population of <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a> could change due to the speed at which they adapt.
Changes in the ranges of plant and animal species have been observed. New species may move to Scotland with the changing climate. Shifts may occur on hillsides and species that are already confined to high mountains may become extinct in Scotland.
Severe effects are likely to occur on <a href="/facts/Biodiversity/GruakEzs">biodiversity</a>. Species of plants and animals that can't adapt quickly enough may become extinct or be replaced by other creatures. Coastal habitats, including <a href="/facts/Machair/9u5zXwy4">machairs</a>, may disappear due to high sea levels eroding the land. Salmon <a href="/facts/Spawning_bed/KWam4zrd">spawning beds</a> may be wiped out by <a href="/facts/Flash_floods/W3QsPAdW">flash floods</a> causing population problems for the species. There will be new risks to animals, plants and their habitats, including non-native pests and diseases.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a>
When all these effects are combined with human response, such as <a href="/facts/Land_use_change/BAMqwQcG">land use change</a> and the growth of new forests, Scotland's ecosystems could change drastically.

<h2 id="impacts-on-people">Impacts on people</h2>
<h3>Health</h3>
Main article: <a href="/facts/Effects_of_climate_change_on_health_in_the_United_Kingdom/Iv8hXTPF">Effects of climate change on health in the United Kingdom</a>
The United Kingdom, along with Scotland, has experienced a significant increase in severe <a href="/facts/Heat_wave/33bJ5jh9">heat waves</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> Increasingly intense and prolonged heat periods can have dire health consequences. Extreme heat has already caused the death of people who would not have died without these weather events, especially in cities.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a> Current knowledge regarding the exact number of heat-related deaths and hospital admissions for Scotland is very limited. It is estimated that there are 70 estimated heat-related deaths per year in Scotland. It is also assumed that impacts in southern Scotland may be similar to those observed in northern England.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> The number of deaths from heat are expected to rise in Scotland and the rest of the UK too.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a>

<h3>Economic impacts</h3>
<h4>Agriculture</h4>
In some cases, Scottish agriculture may experience a positive change as summers will be warmer and drier. A higher yields and the possibility of new crops being able to grow in Scotland. However, <a href="/facts/Soil_quality/2mDaaCxb">soil quality</a> would lower with heat and soil moisture stress. The availability of fresh water could cause problems for livestock. Heat stress with warmer and wetter conditions, livestock could face new diseases such as <a href="/facts/West_Nile_virus/BU0j4uux">West Nile virus</a> and outbreaks of <a href="/facts/Bluetongue/chKqqeLX">bluetongue</a> or <a href="/facts/Parasitism/HWPcgky7">parasites</a> could increase.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>

<h2 id="mitigation-and-adaptation">Mitigation and adaptation</h2>
<h3>Policies and regulation</h3>
<h4>Climate Change Act</h4>
Main article: <a href="/facts/Climate_Change_(Scotland)_Act_2009/Vq51vo3A">Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009</a>
The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 is an Act passed by the Scottish Parliament.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a> The Act includes an <a href="/facts/Emissions_target/pSNeK82u">emissions target</a>, set for the year 2050, for a reduction of at least 80% from the baseline year, 1990.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a> The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 was amended by the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a> increasing the ambition of Scotland's emissions reduction targets to net zero by 2045 and revising interim and annual emissions reduction targets. Annual targets for greenhouse gas emissions must also be set, after consultation the relevant advisory bodies. Provisions are included in the Act for the creation of the Scottish Committee on Climate Change, as at present the only advisory body is the UK <a href="/facts/Committee_on_Climate_Change/r9AU8Fpt">Committee on Climate Change</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a> Ministers in parliament must now report on the progress of these targets.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a> As of January 2011, public sector bodies in Scotland must comply with new guidelines set out by the Scottish Government.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a>

<h4>Protection and enforcement</h4>
Main article: <a href="/facts/Scottish_Environment_Protection_Agency/9h3PuuR2">Scottish Environment Protection Agency</a>
The <a href="/facts/Scottish_Environment_Protection_Agency/9h3PuuR2">Scottish Environment Protection Agency</a> (SEPA) is Scotland's environmental regulator.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a> SEPA's main role is in protecting and improving Scotland's <a href="/facts/Natural_environment/NzGY148M">natural environment</a>. SEPA does this by helping communities, businesses and industries understand their legal and moral responsibilities they have relating to the environment.
SEPA recognises that climate change is the single greatest threat to our future. The organisation has produced its own climate change plan which contains details about how it will reduce its carbon emissions.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25">25</a> This five year climate change plan introduces SEPA's specific role in <a href="/facts/Climate_change_mitigation/GgkoeWMk">climate change mitigation</a>. SEPA, <a href="/facts/Scottish_Natural_Heritage/RH7Hj6mb">Scottish Natural Heritage</a> (SNH), <a href="/facts/Forestry_and_Land_Scotland/G3sLy3mB">Forestry and Land Scotland</a> (FLS), <a href="/facts/Scottish_Forestry/TsS493LK">Scottish Forestry</a> and <a href="/facts/Historic_Environment_Scotland/aKg50lhP">Historic Environment Scotland</a> are all government funded organisations with responsibilities for different aspects of Scotland's environment and heritage. A joint statement on climate change was created by all partners in 2009.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26">26</a>

<blockquote>
"The Scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks and it demands an urgent global response".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27">27</a>

</blockquote>
<h4>Afforestation</h4>
This section is an excerpt from <a href="/facts/Afforestation_in_Scotland/lw3UnvJ8">Afforestation in Scotland</a>.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afforestation_in_Scotland&action=edit">edit</a>]
<a href="/facts/Afforestation_in_Scotland/lw3UnvJ8">Afforestation efforts in Scotland</a> have provided an increase in woodland expansion. By the 20th century mark, Scotland had diminished woodland coverage to 5% of Scotland's land area.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28">28</a> However, by the early 21st century, <a href="/facts/Afforestation/b8sP61Ms">afforestation</a> efforts have increased woodland coverage to 17%. <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29">29</a> The Scottish government released their Draft Climate Change Plan in January 2017. The 2017 draft plan has increased the targeted woodland coverage to 21% by 2032 and increases the afforestation rate to 15,000 <a href="/facts/Hectares/DPz2HDGr">hectares</a> per year. <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30">30</a>
<h3>Energy</h3>
This section is an excerpt from <a href="/facts/Renewable_energy_in_Scotland/9nbfK1cX">Renewable energy in Scotland</a>.[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Renewable_energy_in_Scotland&action=edit">edit</a>]

The production of <a href="/facts/Renewable_energy/6Bu6IrpF">renewable energy</a> in <a href="/facts/Scotland/VGwbbxB2">Scotland</a> is a topic that came to the fore in technical, economic, and political terms during the opening years of the 21st century.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31">31</a> The natural resource base for renewable energy is high by <a href="/facts/Renewable_energy_in_the_European_Union/jI0RDdfP">European</a>, and even global standards, with the most important potential sources being <a href="/facts/Wind_power/vlNN3u16">wind</a>, <a href="/facts/Wave_power/TnVoX1eS">wave</a>, and <a href="/facts/Tidal_power/ET3PvlzR">tide</a>. Renewables generate almost all of <a href="/facts/Scotland/VGwbbxB2">Scotland's</a> electricity, mostly from <a href="/facts/Wind_power_in_Scotland/XmtwQSM2">the country's wind power</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32">32</a>
In 2020, Scotland had 12 <a href="/facts/Gigawatt/VK8oqRrm">gigawatts</a> (GW) of renewable electricity capacity, which produced about a quarter of total <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2">UK</a> renewable generation.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33">33</a> In decreasing order of capacity, Scotland's renewable generation comes from onshore wind, <a href="/facts/Hydropower/Adx1E5ha">hydropower</a>, <a href="/facts/Offshore_wind_power/wqVKcFSw">offshore wind</a>, <a href="/facts/Photovoltaic_system/rD4rcJB8">solar PV</a> and <a href="/facts/Biomass/4VHjaya3">biomass</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34">34</a> <a href="/facts/Scotland/VGwbbxB2">Scotland</a> exports much of this electricity.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35">35</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36">36</a> On 26 January 2024, the Scottish Government confirmed that Scotland generated the equivalent of 113% of Scotland's electricity consumption from renewable energy sources, making it the highest percentage figure ever recorded for renewable energy production in Scotland. It was hailed as "a significant milestone in Scotland's journey to net zero" by the <a href="/facts/Cabinet_Secretary_for_Wellbeing_Economy,_Fair_Work_and_Energy/lW9z6emA">Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy</a>, <a href="/facts/Neil_Gray/pbCP1CTs">Neil Gray</a>. It becomes the first time that Scotland produced more renewable energy than it actually consumed, and demonstrates the "enormous potential of Scotland's green economy" as claimed by Gray.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37">37</a>
Continuing improvements in <a href="/facts/Engineering/RFVg8H3I">engineering</a> and <a href="/facts/Economics/HYctA2Dn">economics</a> are enabling more of the <a href="/facts/Renewable_resource/mLvvNF6A">renewable resources</a> to be used. Fears regarding <a href="/facts/Fuel_poverty_in_the_United_Kingdom/Y5mc5ECp">fuel poverty</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38">38</a> and <a href="/facts/Climate_change/rEN4BDE7">climate change</a> have driven the subject high up the political agenda. In 2020 a quarter of total energy consumption, including heat and transportation, was met from renewables, and the Scottish government target is half by 2030.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39">39</a> Although the finances of some projects remain speculative or dependent on market incentives, there has been a significant—and, in all likelihood, long-term—change in the underpinning economics.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40">40</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41">41</a>

In addition to planned increases in large-scale generating capacity using renewable sources, various related schemes to reduce <a href="/facts/Greenhouse_gas/HXaHqrT8">carbon emissions</a> are being researched.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:42" href="#fn:42">42</a> Although there is significant support from the public, private and community-led sectors, concerns about the effect of the technologies on the natural environment have been expressed. There is also a political debate about the relationship between the siting, and the ownership and control of these widely distributed resources.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:43" href="#fn:43">43</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:44" href="#fn:44">44</a>
<h3>International cooperation</h3>

During a 2017 visit to the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a>, the first minister <a href="/facts/Nicola_Sturgeon/elW9YPwT">Nicola Sturgeon</a> met <a href="/facts/Jerry_Brown/tPU2AoAP">Jerry Brown</a>, <a href="/facts/Governor_of_California/JnCErYuU">Governor of California</a>, where both signed an agreement committing both the Government of California and the Scottish Government to work together to tackle climate change.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:45" href="#fn:45">45</a>
The <a href="/facts/COP26_climate_conference/JARSYWLa">COP26 climate conference</a> was held in <a href="/facts/Glasgow/hHUX44Ra">Glasgow</a> in 2021.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:46" href="#fn:46">46</a>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li>Climate change portal</li></ul>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Energy_policy_of_Scotland/ryHDvTAM">Energy policy of Scotland</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Sustainable_development_in_Scotland/K8dgL02W">Sustainable development in Scotland</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Climate_change_in_the_United_Kingdom/GeMmC56l">Climate change in the United Kingdom</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/David_Reay/5VWHs71d">David Reay</a>, a climate change scientist, author, and senior lecturer in carbon management at the University of Edinburgh</li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://archive.today/20130625035520/http://www.cairngormsclimate.co.uk/">Cairngorms Climate</a> An investigation of climate change in the Scottish highlands.</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100501074051/http://www.sepa.org.uk/climate_change.aspx">Scottish Environment Protection Agency</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100611205550/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/climatechange.htm">Climate Change</a> from the UCB Libraries GovPubs</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101127075407/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climatechange/">Climate Change</a> from the <a href="/facts/Met_Office/V0reszST">Met Office</a> (UK)</li>
<li><a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/">Global Climate Change</a> from <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> (US)</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120306142339/http://www.sniffer.org.uk/Webcontrol/Secure/ClientSpecific/ResourceManagement/UploadedFiles/CC03_1_Handbook.pdf">SNIFFER: A handbook of climate trends across Scotland</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Adapting to climate change. Progress in Scotland (PDF). Climate Change Committee. November 2023. <a href="https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Adapting-to-climate-change-Progress-in-Scotland-Web.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Adapting-to-climate-change-Progress-in-Scotland-Web.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/283799/0086005.pdf GHG Emissions by sector <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/283799/0086005.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/283799/0086005.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/what-is/research-science Scottish Government- Climate Change <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/what-is/research-science" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/what-is/research-science</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Scotland's Climate Change Adaption Framework – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience, Scottish Government. [Accessed 1 May 2010] <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/08130729/1" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/08130729/1</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">"Heat mortality monitoring report: 2022". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-mortality-monitoring-reports/heat-mortality-monitoring-report-2022" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heat-mortality-monitoring-reports/heat-mortality-monitoring-report-2022</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Bunn, Sarah; Mehrhof, Sara (23 May 2024). Public health impacts of heat (PDF). UK Parliament POST. doi:10.58248/PN723. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025. <a href="https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-0723/POST-PN-0723.pdf" target="_blank">https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-0723/POST-PN-0723.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"State of the past and future UK climate" (PDF). Health Effects of Climate Change (HECC) in the UK: 2023 report. UK Health Security Agency. 11 December 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2025. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/657043059462260721c569a6/HECC-report-2023-chapter-1-climate-projections.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/657043059462260721c569a6/HECC-report-2023-chapter-1-climate-projections.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Simpson, Charles H.; Brousse, Oscar; Taylor, Tim; Grellier, James; Taylor, Jonathon; Fleming, Lora E.; Davies, Mike; Heaviside, Clare (1 October 2024). "Modeled temperature, mortality impact and external benefits of cool roofs and rooftop photovoltaics in London". Nature Cities. 1 (11): 751–759. doi:10.1038/s44284-024-00138-1. ISSN 2731-9997. Archived from the original on 3 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-024-00138-1" target="_blank">https://www.nature.com/articles/s44284-024-00138-1</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Heaviside, Clare; Vardoulakis, Sotiris; Cai, Xiao-Ming (8 March 2016). "Attribution of mortality to the urban heat island during heatwaves in the West Midlands, UK". Environmental Health. 15 (S1): 27. Bibcode:2016EnvHe..15S..27H. doi:10.1186/s12940-016-0100-9. ISSN 1476-069X. PMC 4895726. PMID 26961286. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4895726" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4895726</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Evidence for the third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3). Summary for Scotland (PDF). Climate Change Committee. 16 June 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025. <a href="https://www.ukclimaterisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CCRA-Evidence-Report-Scotland-Summary-Final-1.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.ukclimaterisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CCRA-Evidence-Report-Scotland-Summary-Final-1.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Kovats, Sari; Brisley, Rachel (2021). "Health, communities and the built environment" (PDF). The Third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment Technical Report. Climate Change Committee. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025. <a href="https://www.ukclimaterisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CCRA3-Chapter-5-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.ukclimaterisk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CCRA3-Chapter-5-FINAL.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Murage, Peninah; Macintyre, Helen L.; Heaviside, Clare; Vardoulakis, Sotiris; Fučkar, Neven; Rimi, Ruksana H.; Hajat, Shakoor (14 July 2024). "Future temperature-related mortality in the UK under climate change scenarios: Impact of population ageing and bias-corrected climate projections". Environmental Research. 259: 119565. Bibcode:2024ER....25919565M. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2024.119565. hdl:2117/412127. PMID 38971356. Archived from the original on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025. <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0013935124014701" target="_blank">https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0013935124014701</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Scotland's Climate Change Adaption Framework – Agriculture, Scottish Government.[Accessed 1 May 2010] <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/08130619/1" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/12/08130619/1</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, London, HMSO. [Accessed 1 May 2010] <a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2009/pdf/asp_20090012_en.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2009/pdf/asp_20090012_en.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, London, HMSO. [Accessed 1 May 2010] <a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2009/pdf/asp_20090012_en.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2009/pdf/asp_20090012_en.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">"Climate change". <a href="https://www.gov.scot/policies/climate-change/" target="_blank">https://www.gov.scot/policies/climate-change/</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, London, HMSO. [Accessed 1 May 2010] <a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2009/pdf/asp_20090012_en.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2009/pdf/asp_20090012_en.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/climatechangeact/advisorybody Advisory Body <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/climatechangeact/advisorybody" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/climatechangeact/advisorybody</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">Scottish Government report on 2010 emissions. <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/07/GHGemissions17072012" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/07/GHGemissions17072012</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/climatechangeact/publicsector Duties on public sector bodies <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/climatechangeact/publicsector" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/climatechangeact/publicsector</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">Scottish Government, Scotland's Higher Activity Radioactive Waste Policy: Consultation 2010, Part 7, 5.02.02 [Accessed 29 April 2010] <a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/01/14151207/7" target="_blank">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/01/14151207/7</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">Environment Act (1995). (c.2), London, HMSO [Accessed 29 April 2010]. <a href="http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/ukpga_19950025_en_3#pt1-ch2" target="_blank">http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1995/ukpga_19950025_en_3#pt1-ch2</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">LE Law and Your Environment, The plain guide to environmental law website [Accessed 29 April 2010] <a href="http://www.environmentlaw.org.uk/rte.asp?id=241" target="_blank">http://www.environmentlaw.org.uk/rte.asp?id=241</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">The UK Environmental Law Association website [Accessed 29 April 2010] <a href="http://www.ukela.org/rte.asp?id=49" target="_blank">http://www.ukela.org/rte.asp?id=49</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:25">SEPA's Climate Change Plan Archived 6 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine [Accessed 1 May 2010] <a href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=df8f23f4-25cf-4b1b-8d30-3dd6eb7b0b15&version=-1" target="_blank">http://www.sepa.org.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=df8f23f4-25cf-4b1b-8d30-3dd6eb7b0b15&version=-1</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:26">Action on Climate Change – joint statement of intention publication, 2009 Archived 6 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, SEPA, SNH, Historic Scotland, FCS [Accessed 30 April 2010] <a href="http://www.sepa.org.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=612faddc-acdf-42a8-a08e-1744db65befa&version=-1" target="_blank">http://www.sepa.org.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=612faddc-acdf-42a8-a08e-1744db65befa&version=-1</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:27">The Economics of Climate Change, October 2006: Stern Review Archived 28 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine [Accessed 30 April 2010] <a href="http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/6520.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/6520.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:28">Smout, T C; MacDonald, R; Watson, Fiona (2007). A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland 1500–1920. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-3294-7. <a href="978-0-7486-3294-7" target="_blank">978-0-7486-3294-7</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:29">"Woodland expansion across Scotland". NatureScot. Retrieved 29 November 2019. <a href="https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-land/forests-and-woodlands/woodland-expansion-across-scotland" target="_blank">https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/land-and-sea-management/managing-land/forests-and-woodlands/woodland-expansion-across-scotland</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:30">"Draft Climate Change Plan: The draft third report on policies and proposals 2017-2032" (PDF). Government of Scotland. January 2017. <a href="https://www2.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00513102.pdf" target="_blank">https://www2.gov.scot/Resource/0051/00513102.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:31">See, for example, Scottish Executive (2005) Choosing Our Future: Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy. Edinburgh. <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:32">"Renewables met 97% of Scotland's electricity demand in 2020". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56530424" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56530424</a> <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:33">"BEIS Energy Trends – Renewables". UK Government. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables</a> <a href="#fnref:33" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:34">"Statistics". Scottish Renewables. Retrieved 22 April 2023. <a href="https://www.scottishrenewables.com/our-industry/statistics" target="_blank">https://www.scottishrenewables.com/our-industry/statistics</a> <a href="#fnref:34" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:35">"Proportion of electricity generation by fuel". Scottish Government: Scottish Energy Statistics Hub. Retrieved 15 April 2020. <a href="https://scotland.shinyapps.io/Energy/?Section=RenLowCarbon&Subsection=RenElec&Chart=ElecGen" target="_blank">https://scotland.shinyapps.io/Energy/?Section=RenLowCarbon&Subsection=RenElec&Chart=ElecGen</a> <a href="#fnref:35" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:36">"Share of renewable electricity in gross final consumption". Scottish Government: Scottish Energy Statistics Hub. Retrieved 15 April 2020. <a href="https://scotland.shinyapps.io/Energy/?Section=RenLowCarbon&Subsection=RenElec&Chart=RenElecTarget" target="_blank">https://scotland.shinyapps.io/Energy/?Section=RenLowCarbon&Subsection=RenElec&Chart=RenElecTarget</a> <a href="#fnref:36" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:37">"Record renewable energy output". www.gov.scot. Scottish Government. Retrieved 26 January 2024. <a href="https://www.gov.scot/news/record-renewable-energy-output/" target="_blank">https://www.gov.scot/news/record-renewable-energy-output/</a> <a href="#fnref:37" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:38">Wray, Ben (5 June 2022). "April Fuel's Day: Explaining Scotland's energy price rises". The National. Retrieved 11 July 2022. <a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/20187638.must-ask-energy-prices-rising-renewables-rich-scotland/" target="_blank">https://www.thenational.scot/news/20187638.must-ask-energy-prices-rising-renewables-rich-scotland/</a> <a href="#fnref:38" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:39">"Energy statistics". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 11 July 2022. <a href="https://www.gov.scot/collections/energy-statistics/" target="_blank">https://www.gov.scot/collections/energy-statistics/</a> <a href="#fnref:39" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:40">Monbiot, George (2006). Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning. London: Allen Lane. ISBN 978-0-71399-924-2. OCLC 70173475. <a href="978-0-71399-924-2" target="_blank">978-0-71399-924-2</a> <a href="#fnref:40" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:41">Valenti, Martin (2020) "Scotland's leading role in the journey to a sustainable, low-carbon future". Scottish Enterprise. Retrieved 7 February 2021. <a href="https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/learning-zone/business-guides/components-folder/business-guides-listing/scotlands-leading-role-in-the-journey-to-a-sustainable-low-carbon-future" target="_blank">https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/learning-zone/business-guides/components-folder/business-guides-listing/scotlands-leading-role-in-the-journey-to-a-sustainable-low-carbon-future</a> <a href="#fnref:41" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:42">"Ending Scotland's Contribution to Climate Change". Scottish Government. Retrieved 15 April 2020. <a href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/protecting-scotlands-future-governments-programme-scotland-2019-20/pages/5/" target="_blank">https://www.gov.scot/publications/protecting-scotlands-future-governments-programme-scotland-2019-20/pages/5/</a> <a href="#fnref:42" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:43">HICEC. (2006) Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company Annual Review. HICEC. Inverness. Archived 8 May 2007 at the Wayback Machine. (PDF). Retrieved 31 August 2007. <a href="http://www.hie.co.uk/HICEC/HICEC-Annual_review.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hie.co.uk/HICEC/HICEC-Annual_review.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:43" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:44">"Scottish communities reap £20m in benefits from renewable energy projects". Local Energy Scotland. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200812015029/https://localenergy.scot/news-and-events/2020/january-2020/scottish-communities-reap-20m-in-benefits-from-renewable-energy-projects/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20200812015029/https://localenergy.scot/news-and-events/2020/january-2020/scottish-communities-reap-20m-in-benefits-from-renewable-energy-projects/</a> <a href="#fnref:44" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:45">"Sturgeon signs climate agreement with California". BBC News. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2018. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39485807" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39485807</a> <a href="#fnref:45" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:46">Carbon Brief Staff (15 November 2021). "COP26: Key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Glasgow". Carbon Brief. Retrieved 22 April 2023. <a href="https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop26-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-glasgow/" target="_blank">https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop26-key-outcomes-agreed-at-the-un-climate-talks-in-glasgow/</a> <a href="#fnref:46" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Climate change in Scotland open-in-new

Climate change in Scotland