Information pertaining to climate change data: EIR release

Information requested

1. All your records from independent scientists, that you have contracted here in Scotland, that show actual real world changes in our climate. I do not want data that other scientists from other countries or governments have produced. I am specifically asking for what has been analysed and presented here in Scotland on the changes to the climate in this country over the past 10 years. Also, the names of the independent scientists and the institutions that they work for.
2. Any “climate change” data that you have that has been gathered by the process of a “climate change” control experiment here in Scotland.
3. a) Actual data and evidence of the direct impact on the Scottish environment from “greenhouse” emissions? b) Do you have data gathered here in Scotland that shows how “greenhouse” emissions have risen over the past 10 years and what conclusions were reached as to what caused this?
4. The public consultation documents regarding the UN Paris Agreement and Scotland’s landmark Climate Change Act where they show that we the people were consulted and voted on these agreements.

 

 

Response

1. Scottish Government does not hold data relevant to your request. Scottish Government uses published data by authorities such as the UK Meteorological Office and the Climate Change Committee to show actual real world changes in our climate.

2. Scottish Government does not hold information relevant to this request.

3. Independent research commissioned by Scottish Government related to your request 3a on the impacts and projected impacts of climate change and including details of the researchers and their respective institutes, can be found here:

• ClimateXChange, Scotland’s Centre of Expertise on climate change.
• Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes, is a consortium of six globally renowned research institutes. As SEFARI, these institutes deliver the Scottish Government funded Strategic Research Programme (SRP).
• UK Climate Risk Independent Assessment – Technical Report – Chapter 1 – Latest Scientific Evidence for Observed and Projected Climate Change
• Adaptation Scotland and Met Office: Climate Projections for Scotland – Summary of overview of the UK Climate Projections for Scotland

Information relevant to question 3b is published here and shows that Scottish greenhouse gas emissions have fallen over the past ten years.

4. You have requested public consultation documents regarding the UN Paris Agreement and Scotland’s landmark Climate Change Act.

Under devolution legislation, the UK Government remains responsible for international treaties such as the UN Paris Agreement, and are responsible for any consultation and agreement of the treaties. Information on treaties to which the UK is a party is available on the UK Government website. The Scottish Government was consulted by the UK Government prior to adoption of the Paris Agreement. As set out in a Scottish Government press release, the then Environment Secretary called for the UK to show continued leadership through swift ratification.

In response to the Paris Agreement, the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019 raised the ambition of Scotland’s domestic emissions reduction targets, including setting a target to reach net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045. This Act began as a Climate Change Bill which was informed by a comprehensive consultation process, alongside responses to a public consultation, prior to being introduced to the Scottish Parliament. The formal public consultation took place in the period June – September 2017 with a number of other engagement events during the preparation of the Bill. These included two discussion business breakfast events hosted by Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group, six community consultation events run by the Scottish Communities Climate Action Network which ran in the same period as the public consultation, and a stakeholder event discussing the technical aspects of the consultation paper. The Bill was also informed by advice from the UK Climate Change Committee. The Bill was subsequently introduced for consideration by the Scottish Parliament in May 2018, and the final version of the Bill was passed by a vote in the Scottish Parliament, whose members represent the people of Scotland, in September 2019. Further information on the passage of the Bill is available on the Scottish Parliament’s website.

Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites provided, then please contact us again.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.