Review of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in SEA and EIA Processes

Abstract

The implementation of the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 has set a new climate change target for reducing emissions that aims to bring Scotland’s emissions to net-zero by 2045. Achieving this target will require a sound understanding of likely greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (or reductions) arising from national, strategic and project level decision-making.

The requirement to consider the impacts of a plan, programme or strategy (PPS) or proposed development on GHG emissions is captured as part of a wider assessment under the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regimes where relevant. This project seeks to review current practice in considering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as part of these processes.