No room for hubris on carbon emissions performance
WWF trumpets the percentage reductions in greenhouse gases achieved in Scotland and claims that “Scotland shows the way” (“Scotland shows way in cutting carbon emissions”. The Herald, August 1). Statistics are slippery things, and none more slippery than percentage changes.
In 2014 Scotland produced around 8.7 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person. The EU average was around 8.4, with the UK at around 8.1. Globally the figure is around half that. But a sustainable figure, avoiding the most damaging climate change, is less than one-tenth of Scotland's current per capita emissions.
A bit less trumpeting and a bit more modesty is needed.
Dave Gordon
60 Bonhard Road, Scone, Perthshire.
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