Carbon Footprint
type: Dataset
description: These are sometimes referred to 'consumption emissions'. Scotland's carbon footprint is associated with the spending of Scottish residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions arise along the supply chain, and those which are directly generated by Scottish households through private motoring and heating. The purpose of this dataset is to find out what effect Scottish consumption has on greenhouse gas emissions, by taking into account where the goods we buy come from and their associated supply chains. These figures are different to territorial emissions which are presented within the 'Scottish Greenhouse Gas Emissions' dataset. The carbon footprint refers to greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the spending of Scottish residents on goods and services, wherever in the world these emissions arise along the supply chain, and those which are directly generated by Scottish households; for example, through heating and private motoring. Scotland's Carbon Footprint has been calculated in 4 steps: * Step 1. Develop an Input-output (IO) model; * Step 2. Develop a Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) model; * Step 3. Develop UK Based MRIO Model; * Step 4. Develop the Scottish Consumption Based Account (the Scottish Carbon Footprint). The carbon footprint is not calculated in the same way as Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions, which occur within a country's borders. [http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/Publications](http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment/Publications)
issued: 2026-08-13T12:02:37.837684
modified: 2026-08-13T12:03:54.655178
version notes: Methodological changes are made to the UKMRIO between each release. Since the carbon footprint was first published, successive releases have used different versions of the UK MRIO model. The 2012 release used a 2-region model which only distinguished the UK and the Rest of the World as trade regions. The 2013, 2015 and 2016 releases used a four region model, distinguishing imports from Europe, China and the Rest of World, using trade data from the Eora global MRIO. The 2017, 2018 and 2019 model adopted the same four regions but used trade data from the EXIOBASE MRIO.
contact point: Organization
contact point: Kind
theme: Environment
accuracy: Scotland's Carbon Footprint has been calculated in 4 steps: Step 1. Develop an Input-output (IO) model; Step 2. Develop a Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) model; Step 3. Develop UK Based MRIO Model; Step 4. Develop the Scottish Consumption Based Account (the Scottish Carbon Footprint). More detailed information on each of the steps can be found in the Official Statistics publication \"Scottish Carbon Footprint, 1998-2022\"
comment: Greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the consumption by Scottish residents on goods and services and by private heating and motoring
completeness: These statistics are published in the [Scotland's Carbon Footprint, 1998-2022]( https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-carbon-footprint-1998-2022/) Official Statistics publication. The data are published in Excel format and is also available as a PDF with accompanying commentary.
confidentiality: These figures are compiled in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. A restricted number of people are granted pre-release access for quality assurance and for briefing of these statistics.
consistency: The figures are comparable to the UK Carbon Footprint release but totals for other countries are not comparable, due to on-going international developments in methodology.
geographical coverage: S92
license id: uk-ogl
next update: 2027-03-01
quality management: Members of the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) at Leeds University have compiled the figures and improved the methodology used in the Scottish Carbon Footprint statistics release.
reference period: PeriodOfTime
  end date: 2022
  start date: 1998
timeliness: The data are published on an annual basis around 3 years after the reference period. This is due to the time lags involved in obtaining and developing the underlying global economic data which are required for \"Scotland's Carbon Footprint, 1998-2022\" publication.
uniqueness: Not assessed
update frequency: annual
validity: A reduction in the carbon footprint Scotland is an indicator of more sustainable consumption behaviour from both individuals and businesses.
will be updated: true

carbon-footprint.csv
type: Distribution
description: Data file for Carbon Footprint
format: CSV
issued: 2026-08-13T12:03:54.665940
modified: 2026-08-13T12:03:54.662034
table schema: Schema
  column: Column
    datatype: float
    name: Value
  column: Column
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    name: Units
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    datatype: text
    name: GeographyType
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    datatype: text
    name: Measurement
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: GeographyName
  column: Column
    datatype: int
    name: DateCode
  column: Column
    datatype: text
    name: GeographyCode
access URL: https://admin.data.gov.scot/resource/7d2c7691-7a4f-4908-ab77-1e9bcd204cd3/download
comment: Greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the consumption by Scottish residents on goods and services and by private heating and motoring
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyCode
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyType
  type: text
dictionary: Column
  column: Units
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dictionary: Column
  column: Measurement
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dictionary: Column
  column: Value
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dictionary: Column
  column: GeographyName
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Scottish Government
type: Agent

Environment
type: Concept