Draft Regulations laid before the Scottish Parliament under section 96(4) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, for approval by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

2022 No.

Climate Change

The Climate Change (Nitrogen Balance Sheet) (Scotland) Regulations 2022

Made

Coming into force

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the power conferred by section 8A(3) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 20091 (“the Act”) and all other powers enabling them to do so.

In accordance with section 8A(4) of the Act, the Scottish Ministers have consulted such persons as they consider appropriate.

In accordance with section 96(4) of the Act, a draft of this instrument has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

Citation, commencement and interpretation1

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Climate Change (Nitrogen Balance Sheet) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 and come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

2

In these Regulations—

  • “nitrogen” includes nitrous oxide and other oxides of nitrogen, ammonia and nitrates,

  • “relevant year” means—

    1. a

      2023, and

    2. b

      each subsequent year, ending with the year in which a report in relation to the net-zero emissions target year is laid before the Scottish Parliament under section 33(1) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 20092.

The nitrogen balance sheet2

1

The Scottish Ministers must publish the nitrogen balance sheet3 on the day these Regulations come into force.

2

The nitrogen balance sheet must include—

a

the period or periods of time to which the information contained in it relates,

b

all major nitrogen flows for the following sectors—

i

agriculture and aquaculture (including food production),

ii

business and industrial process,

iii

energy (including the production and consumption of energy),

iv

forestry,

v

transport,

vi

waste management (including food waste).

Nitrogen use efficiency: calculation3

1

For the purposes of the nitrogen balance sheet and these Regulations, nitrogen use efficiency4 is a percentage figure calculated in accordance with paragraph (2).

2

The percentage figure is calculated as follows—

AB×100math

where—

  • “A” is the sum total of nitrogen removed from the Scottish economy and environment as harvested crops, livestock produce and other nitrogen containing products, as reported in the nitrogen balance sheet, and

  • “B” is the sum total of nitrogen input to the Scottish economy and environment, as reported in the nitrogen balance sheet.

Baseline for nitrogen use efficiency4

The baseline figure for nitrogen use efficiency is 25%.

Nitrogen balance sheet: review, monitoring and reporting5

1

The Scottish Ministers must in each relevant year—

a

review and update the nitrogen balance sheet,

b

publish the updated nitrogen balance sheet, and

c

lay before the Scottish Parliament a report containing the information in paragraph (2).

2

Each report laid under paragraph (1)(c) must contain—

a

a figure for nitrogen use efficiency, and the period of time to which that figure relates,

b

any revised figure for nitrogen use efficiency in relation to a period of time preceding the period of time to which the report relates and the reason for the revision, and

c

an assessment of—

i

progress towards implementing proposals and policies relevant to improving nitrogen use efficiency in Scotland,

ii

any future opportunities for improving nitrogen use efficiency in Scotland, and

iii

how nitrogen use efficiency is expected to contribute to the achievement of future emissions reduction targets5.

NameA member of the Scottish GovernmentSt Andrew’s House,Edinburgh
EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make provision in connection with the nitrogen balance sheet. Section 8A(1) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (“the 2009 Act”) requires the Scottish Ministers to create a nitrogen balance sheet to quantify major nitrogen flows across all sectors and media in Scotland.

These Regulations require the Scottish Ministers to publish the nitrogen balance sheet on the day these Regulations come into force. These Regulations also specify the baseline figure for nitrogen use efficiency and make provision for how nitrogen use efficiency is to be calculated. Section 8A(5) of the 2009 Act defines “nitrogen use efficiency” as the ratio of nitrogen removed from the environment compared to total nitrogen inputs.

These Regulations require the Scottish Ministers to review and update the nitrogen balance sheet and lay a report before the Scottish Parliament in relation to nitrogen use efficiency annually, in each relevant year. A “relevant year” is 2023 and each subsequent year, ending with the year a report is laid before the Scottish Parliament under section 33(1) of the 2009 Act in relation to the net-zero emissions target year. The report must include, among other things, a new figure for nitrogen use efficiency (and state the period of time to which that figure relates), any revised figure for nitrogen use efficiency in relation to a period of time preceding the period of time to which the report relates, and an assessment of how nitrogen use efficiency is expected to contribute to achieving future greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.