Scotland is under immense pressure as it failed to meet its statutory targets for reducing emissions for the third year in a row. Now, Scottish ministers are stepping up their action to cut emissions.

Lately, figures came out revealing Scotland missed its targets by 2.4m tonnes equivalent of CO2 in 2012. Emissions in 2011 and 2012 have increased a lot. The Scottish government itself set targets in its Climate Change Act in 2009, but has been unable to meet them.

The emissions target for 2012 was 53.226mte CO2. But the country emitted 55.6mte CO2 and was unable to meet any of its targets. For 2013, Scotland kept quite a high target for them and that was a cut of 10%. Now, experts are saying that yet again Scotland will miss the target by a large margin.

There are chances that Scotland may miss the target by around 8mte CO2. Experts said it would happen because of failure to take radical steps on transport, heating and industrial emissions.

Scottish Environment Minister Paul Wheelhouse said bit rise in 2012 emissions was due to unexpected change in the emissions and that added 5.4mte to Scotland's total that year. The blame has also been levied at increased usage of home heating and switch from gas to carbon-intensive coal during that winter.

Wheelhouse further asserted they seem to be on track in most sectors except missing the previous two targets. "Be assured - this government's ambition is resolute. I am confident our world-leading targets are driving the changes required for a smooth transition to a low carbon Scotland", affirmed Wheelhouse. Scotland ministers are determined to achieve greenhouse gas emission targets, said Wheelhouse.

Actions are being taken to achieve the target. In fact, a new climate change delivery board has been established that will work with newly set up cabinet sub-committee to coordinate policies.