This article appears as part of the Winds of Change newsletter.

When we talk about our stalling emissions progress in Scotland, so often the focus is on our failure to hit heat and transport targets. But these are not the only sectors in which Scotland is failing. Not often enough do we mention the sticky problem of agriculture: all those methane burps, the fertiliser, the fuel combustion, all of which and more combine to make it our third largest source of emissions.

Perhaps that’s because it touches on one of our most emotive issues, what we eat and how it is produced. It’s a case of don’t mention the red meat and the dairy.

Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions data for 2023-4 was published today and is a reminder that agriculture is a sector in which emissions are stubbornly not moving. Overall Scotland’s emissions are down by 1.9% on the previous year, but agriculture has reduced by only 0.1%.

Since 1990, Scotland has slashed its overall emissions by over half, but agricultural emissions have fallen by only 13%, and this drop has been “largely driven by falling livestock numbers”. From 1990 to 2023 cattle and sheep numbers have decreased by 20% and 33%, respectively.

So, what’s the problem in agriculture? A new report also published today by the Scottish Government, 'Scottish agriculture greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen use: 2023-24', presents the data.

In terms of the problems, it’s not all about the beef and dairy. Last year........

© Herald Scotland