Scotland releases 2010 GHG survey

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EDINBURGH, Scotland, July 18 (UPI) -- Carbon dioxide made up 79 percent of Scottish greenhouse gas emissions in 2010, a 7.6 increase from the previous year, the government said.

The Scottish government published emissions information for 2010. The government said there were "large increases" in greenhouse gas emissions from the energy and residential sectors in 2009 and 2010.

"This was primarily due to a rise in fossil fuel heating in the residential sector, combined with an increase in electricity generation from coal fired power stations," the government said.

Edinburgh noted, however, that 2010 was the coldest year on record in about 100 years.

Overall greenhouse gas emissions were estimated at close to 56 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, a 5.8 percent increase from the previous year. From 1990 to 2010, however, there was a 22.8 percent reduction in overall emissions.

The bulk of the emissions came from carbon dioxide. In 2010, Scotland emitted nearly 44 million tons of CO2, a 7.6 percent increase from the previous year. Since 1990, however, carbon dioxide emissions declined 18 percent overall.

Scotland aims to derive 100 percent of its electricity demand through renewable energy projects by 2020.