
Scotland’s Carbon Footprint Sees Sharpest Annual Surge in Two Decades
Scotland has recorded its largest annual rise in carbon emissions in over 20 years, with new government data revealing a sharp 15% increase in the national carbon footprint between 2020 and 2021. The country’s footprint — which accounts for the climate impact of all goods and services consumed in Scotland, including imported products, domestic travel, heating, and more — rose from 52 million tonnes to 59 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. The figures, released on 8 April 2025, mark a dramatic rebound in climate-harming emissions following the pandemic-related slowdown in global economic activity. Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels — and…