The main forms of renewable energy are: solar, wind, hydro, biofuel and geothermal (energy derived from heat generated under the earth’s surface) and these sources are all continually replenished.

Scientists believe that greenhouse gasses are the culprits behind global warming... Unlike fossil fuels, renewable sources of energy like hydropower, wind and solar do not directly emit greenhouse gases. (Terrapass, 2016)

Renewables produce more than 20% of the UK’s electricity, and EU targets means that this is likely to increase to 30% by 2020. 1) The UK is well placed to take advantage of wind power, with some of the best conditions in Europe and high average wind speeds. 2) Hydroelectric power is also a well established technology, where the flow of water is used to turn turbines to generate electricity.

The most immediate air quality challenge is tackling the problem of NO2 concentrations around roads - the only statutory air quality limit that the UK is currently failing to meet. Central to the UK government’s objective of tackling NO2 and carbon emissions is its ambition for Britain to lead the world in electric vehicle technology and use. The government will end the sale of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040. (UK Gov, 2017)

In the strength of its ambition for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases which lead to climate change, Scotland is leading the UK. It has legislated an interim target to reduce emissions by 42% in 2020, on 1990 levels. It has committed to a tightening of targets of at least 3% a year after 2020. (Committee on Climate Change, 2016)

Scotland is taking the lead in promoting the use of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs), with a target to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032, eight years before the rest of the UK. This will be done mainly by rising the number of electric vehicles on the roads. (Scotland Gov, 2017)

In the United Kingdom, the transport sector accounted for the largest share of final consumption of energy at 40 per cent in 2016, the same share as in 2015, with the domestic sector accounting for 29 per cent, industry 17 per cent, and the services sector 14 per cent. (UK Gov, 2017)