The UK has legally binding commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce its emissions of a basket of gases, including CO₂. To this end the Government has committed itself to reducing our overall output of CO₂ by 20% by 2010. Under devolution the Scottish Executive is obliged to fulfil its share of such reductions. Developments in the domestic, transport, industrial and service sectors all need to contribute towards an overall reduction in CO₂ emissions. It is estimated that the domestic sector in Scotland is responsible for around 14% of our total CO₂ emissions. Any realistic sustainable development policy must therefore take account of the domestic sector.

Sustainable Development and the Domestic Sector