1 Introduction
A Commitment to Mitigating Climate Change
1.1 In 2006, Scottish transport, including international aviation and shipping, accounted for 15.0 mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), or 24.4% of total Scottish greenhouse gas emissions. This figure, both in terms of absolute emissions and the proportion of total emissions, continues to grow on an annual basis.
1.2 Reducing emissions from transport is one of the National Transport Strategy's three key strategic outcomes. On 5 th December 2008 the Scottish Government published the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill, which includes a commitment to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030, and by 80% by 2050. The finalised version 2 also includes an interim target of 42% by 2020. These targets demonstrate a bold commitment by the Scottish Government. It signifies the importance Scotland places on playing its part in mitigating one of the most serious threats facing our world. Figure 1.1 below illustrates the scale of the challenge.
Figure 1.1: The Scale of the Challenge
1.3 The Scottish Government's Transport Directorate wants to improve its evidence base on how it can contribute to meeting emission reduction targets and appointed Atkins in partnership with the University of Aberdeen to undertake a study to identify, analyse, and report on the policy options available to the Scottish Government.
Our Approach
1.4 The study has been carried out using a seven stage methodology:
- Establishment of a preliminary long list of potential policy options;
- Identification of "ownership" of options;
- Finalisation and filtering of the policy option list;
- Comparison of Scottish and UK transport use and requirements;
- Establishment of the baseline 'business as usual' emissions scenario;
- Detailed assessment of policy options; and
- Packing of complimentary policy options into two alternative scenarios;
- Central Scenario - a package of policy options that could feasibly be deployed with a politically or publicly acceptable degree of "forcefulness", and
- Ambitious Scenario - a package of policy options, included all the measures from the Central Scenario which could be applied more forcefully, and also some policy options considered too ambitious for the Central Scenario.
Preliminary Report
1.5 A Preliminary Report was produced in March 2009 that detailed the work undertaken on the first four stages of the study.
Final Report
1.6 The Final Report sets out the study methodology, details of the policy options, and the results of the policy analysis that has been undertaken. Following this introduction the report is structured into the following chapters:
- Chapter 2 - Sets out the methodology for the study;
- Chapter 3 - Details the policy options; and
- Chapter 4 - Presents the detailed assessment of each individual policy, and considers the performance of the Central and Ambitious Scenarios.