Scotland needs to step up its efforts to cut emissions or risk missing its own targets on greenhouse gases, a panel of experts has warned.

The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said pollution was "likely" to have increased in 2010, in part because of the unusually cold winter, and put much of the 7% fall from the previous year down to the recession.

In its first progress report on emission reductions in Scotland, the independent advisory body predicted that emissions in 2020 would be 38% lower than their 1990 levels - short of the Scottish Government's target figure of 42%.

It said an "additional effort" was needed to reduce pollution further, or a tightening up of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS).

The CCC suggested agriculture and land use may have "further scope for emissions reduction". However, it said all sectors should be looked at to see if further cuts are possible.

Tom Ballantine, chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said: "This assessment of Scotland's progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions makes it pretty clear the Government must raise its game.

"The committee conclude that climate emissions have mainly fallen due to the recession and not as a result of government policy. Most worryingly, the report says that rather than locking in the reduction, emissions were back on the rise in 2010.

"This is particularly true in the transport sector, highlighted by the committee as an example of where new policy effort is needed from the Scottish Government."

Since 1990 emissions have fallen in all sectors, except for a 4% rise in pollution from transport, including from international aviation and shipping.

The CCC said "good progress has been made on investment in renewable electricity", with new capacity being added at the rate required to meet targets.

David Kennedy, chief executive of the CCC, said "good progress has been made by the Scottish Government", but added: "Going forward, it will be important for the Scottish Government to continue to support the implementation of policies at both UK and national level to further cut emissions, resulting in climate change and wider economic benefits."

Environment and Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said the report was a "welcome contribution to our understanding of what we need to do to achieve our climate change targets".