Understanding the carbon burden: Investing for Scotland’s net zero future

The pathway to net zero presents complex challenges. The reality is that not all the investments we make will directly reduce carbon emissions. Instead, many will play a crucial enabling role in the broader transition to net zero. This introduces the concept of a carbon-burden, defined as the greenhouse gas emissions emitted as a result of supporting the journey to net zero. This concept underscores a key paradox: some actions essential to achieving net zero may initially result in high emissions, highlighting the complexity of supporting the transition pathway.