SSN analysis report shows continued decline of corporate emissions across Scotland’s public bodies
The Sustainable Scotland Network has today published its annual analysis of Public Bodies Climate Change Duties (PBCCD) Reports for 2018/19. This is the fourth year of mandatory climate change reporting for public sector bodies. SSN’s analysis provides valuable insight into how public bodies are responding to the climate crisis.
Reporting is mandatory for all Major Players* who submit their reports on areas such as governance, adaptation and corporate emissions.
The analysis report published today presents a summary and key findings on the public sector corporate emissions. The analysis breaks down corporate emissions by sector, emission reduction projects and renewable energy initiatives.
Public sector emissions continue to decline, with emissions reporting now well embedded in most public sector organisations
Data shows a continued decrease of public sector emissions for 2018/19. Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions are down 12.4% compared to 2017/18 and down 26% since mandatory reporting began in 2015/16.
Reported emission reduction projects such as CHP installations and decarbonisation of fleet vehicles have resulted in carbon savings of around 76 ktCO2e in the reporting year 2018/19.
There has been a decrease in reported carbon saving from all renewable generation compared with 2017/18. However, activity on renewables was reported by 71% of public bodies (up from 63% last year) with all sectors reporting at least one renewable energy initiative. Solar panels and biomass boilers are by far the most widely reported renewable technology being installed, in keeping with the past three years.
The quality of climate change reports continues to improve, with fewer quality assurance checks and corrections needed and an improvement in the quality and quantity of data reported, especially for projects and renewables.
Commenting on the analysis of 2018/19 climate change reports, Kate Dapré, Chair of SSN, said:
“At a time when the public is asking for more to be done to address the global climate emergency it is encouraging to see Scotland’s public bodies playing their part through the reduction of emissions from their own operations. This work now needs to be stepped up, and the role of public sector organisations in supporting change across society to help Scotland meet its net zero emissions target and recover from the impact of COVID-19 needs to be given greater attention.
I would like to thank the many SSN members throughout Scotland’s public sector for their commitment to action on climate change and their work to ensure that good carbon management and reporting becomes common-place. SSN will continue to work with the Scottish Government and a range of other partners and stakeholders to support the scaling-up of public sector action on climate change”.
The SSN analysis shows that carbon management and reporting is now well-established in Scotland’s public sector bodies. Now is the time to link this emissions data more directly with decision-making, and to work together to better align the whole public sector with Scotland’s new emissions targets on the path to net zero by 2045.
Download the report!
The Public Bodies Climate Change Analysis Report can be downloaded here. All individual Public Bodies’ Climate Change Duties reports can also be accessed online along with reports from each of the four mandatory reporting years, plus those produced in the initial trial year.
PBCCD Reporting 2019/20
Management of the PBCCD Reporting is transitioning from the Sustainable Scotland Network Secretariat to the Scottish Government. The reporting process for 2019/20 has not yet been confirmed and we will share any information as soon as it is available. In the meantime, if you have any reporting questions, please use the Scottish Government email address: climatechangepbreporting@gov.scot
Notes: * The 2015 Climate Change (Scotland) Order requires all public bodies classified as major players to publish annual climate change reports. For the reporting year 2018/19 there were 180 public bodies classified as major players, including 30 Integrated Joint Boards (IJBs). Full list available here.