Scottish climate change adaptation programme 2019-2024: consultation draft

We want to hear your views on Scotland's new five-year climate change adaptation programme to be launched in autumn 2019.


Outcome 1: Our communities are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe in response to the changing climate

Sub-Outcome 1.1: People in Scotland's diverse communities are informed, empowered and adapting to climate change

The Scottish Government believes that empowered and informed communities will be essential for Scotland to adapt to the changing climate. The policies that fall under this sub-outcome aim to deliver this.

Policy Name

Description and Link to Adaptation

Resilient Communities Strategic Framework and Delivery Plan 2017 -2021

The aim of this plan is to support Scotland's communities, individuals and organisations to harness resources and expertise to prevent, prepare for, and recover from emergencies.

Scottish Flood Forecasting Service

As flood risk increases due to climate change, the forecasting service ensures that forecasting and warning information is available to the public and emergency responders.

Scottish Flood Forum

The Scottish Flood Forum is an independent charity that provides immediate support in the event of flooding and helps establish community resilience for areas at risk of flood.

Empowering Communities to Increase Their Resilience

With increased flood risk, it is important to continue investing in novel approaches to enable communities to improve resilience and recover from flooding. Previous projects in this area include Rivertrack community flood warning.

Research and Knowledge Exchange

To ensure policy is based on the latest evidence, the Scottish Government will continue to fund research and pilot projects through Centres of Expertise CREW (water) and ClimateXChange (climate change).

Place Standard Tool

The Place Standard is a tool that can help anyone to evaluate the quality of a place and help communities, public authorities and industry work together to create places that support a high quality of life. Ongoing improvements for the tool will promote the relationships between place-based approaches and climate change adaptation.

The Place Principle

The Place Principle recognises the importance of places at the heart of communities and promotes a more collaborative and participative approach to services, land and buildings

Sub-Outcome 1.2: Scotland's buildings and places are adaptable to Climate Change

As the climate changes, the built environment will need to be adapted to withstand increased temperatures, rainfall, storminess, and flooding. The historic environment, while being inherently resilient, can be made vulnerable to climate change without regular maintenance and care. The policies that fall under this sub-outcome aim to support the adaptation of Scotland's built environment and places, helping to ensure that our homes, businesses and public buildings are safe and resilient as our climate changes.

Policy Name

Description and Link to Adaptation

Flood Risk Management Strategies and Local Flood Risk Management Plans 2015-2021

The Scottish Government invests £42 million annually in local authority flood risk management. Flood Risk Management Strategies and Plans set out the short and long term ambitions for flood risk management in Scotland, coordinating the efforts to where flood risk and benefits of investment are greatest.

Flood Resilient Properties

The Scottish Government are funding a range of initiatives to improve the resilience of properties to flood risk.

Dynamic Coast 2

Dynamic Coast is Scotland's National Coastal Change Assessment. Phase two will identify resilience of Scotland's natural coastal defences to climate change effects and coastal erosion and develop mitigation, adaptation and resilience plans.

Building with Nature (Interreg)

The objective of this demonstration project is to make coasts, estuaries and catchments of the North Sea Region more adaptable and resilient through partnerships to build the evidence base for nature based solutions.

Energy Efficient Scotland

This is a 20-year programme that will make our homes and buildings warmer, greener and more efficient.

Tolerable Standard & Scottish Housing Quality Standards

This is a minimum standard for houses in Scotland including regulation for insulation, energy efficiency and damp reduction amongst others. Adherence to these standards will help protect against climate change effects.

Building Regulations

Building regulations set standards for new buildings and new work on existing buildings. Provisions are set out to increase the resilience of buildings and limit water and electricity demand.

Research for buildings and heritage sites

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will continue to undertake research to identify resilience measures for existing buildings and heritage assets.

Historic Environment Scotland's 5-year Climate Change and Environmental Action Plan

This plan set outs Historic Environment Scotland's (HES) approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change to the organisation and to the wider historic environment.

Adapt Northern Heritage (Interreg)

This project supports communities and local authorities to adapt northern cultural heritage to climate change through community engagement and conservation planning.

Our Place in Time: Climate Change Working Group

Historic Environment Scotland has established a working group under this policy to bring together the wide-ranging sectors of the historic environment to coordinate action on climate change.

Historic Environment Policy 2019-2029

This policy includes the care, management and sustainable use of the historic environment and considers the affect that climate change will have on these sites.

Communities - Adaptation Behaviours:

1. Increase local drainage and be prepared for flood events. Keep greenspace green and clear surface-water drains. Sign up for SEPA Flood Alerts for advance flood warnings. Visit Scottish Flood Forum for extra advice and information.

2. Choose property level flood protection measures. If you live in an area at risk of flooding, there are multiple measures that prevent flood water entering your home, and minimise the damage if it does. Consider investing in these measures to reduce the impact of a flood event.

3. Shop local and get involved in community growing. Purchasing local, seasonal produce can minimise the risk of disruption in the event of extreme weather. Community projects are also a great way to meet people and get socialising.

4. Learn about your historic property. Scotland's historic properties are prone to issues if they are not continually maintained. Historic Environment Scotland have resources to help you to understand your property, learn how to maintain it, and identify any potential issues.

Associated Risks (from the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2017)

PB5: Risks to people, communities and building from flooding

PB7: Risks to building fabric from moisture, wind and driving rain

PB8: Risks to culturally valued structures and the wider historic environment

PB6: Risks to the viability of coastal communities from sea level rise

Contact

Email: Gavin.Barrie@gov.scot

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