Question reference: S5W-35984
- Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 18 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and (b) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regarding including blue carbon emissions and removals in the National Greenhouse Gas inventory.
Answer
Scottish Government officials have met with DEFRA to discuss the evidence requirements for incorporating saltmarsh and seagrass into the UK inventory. We are working together with members of the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum to gather the required evidence.
Scottish Government (and DEFRA) officials are also represented on the BEIS-led National Inventory Steering Committee, which meets twice a year to consider technical issues around the UK inventory. Once sufficient evidence for the addition of saltmarsh and seagrass has been gathered, it will be presented to the Steering Committee. However, decisions around changes to the inventory are made solely by BEIS officials and Ministers.