NPF4 planning guidance: policy 2 - climate mitigation and adaptation

7. Annex: Sources of information and evidence on climate adaptation

7.1 Observed and future climate information

• The Met Office’s Local Authority Climate Service (LACS). LACS provides free and accessible reports on observed and projected climate trends for all local authority areas in Scotland. This allows anyone to explore how local areas will be impacted by climate change. It offers this information for different, yet plausible, future global warming scenarios.
• Adaptation Scotland provide a Climate projections for Scotland summary that sets out the trends for how climate is expected to change in Scotland over the coming decades.
• SEPA resources:
  • Flood maps provide the most comprehensive Scotland wide information on flooding, showing where flooding might be expected now and in the future.
  • Climate Change Allowances for Flood Risk Assessment in Land Use Planning sets out required allowances for climate change that must be used for flood risk assessment.
  • Recommended Riparians Corridor Layer for use in land use planning A GIS layer has been created which indicates the minimum space needed along rivers (i.e. riparian corridor width scaled to river width) to give rivers space to adapt to changes in flood frequency and magnitude and to provide a range of benefits.
  • Water scarcity pages set out measures to act on in times of water scarcity to protect the environment and water resources for critical activities. Including a planning advice note on LDP Evidence Gathering: Water Scarcity. This brings together the latest evidence relating to water scarcity for Scotland to support the LDP evidence gathering process. It could also inform development management decisions.
• Dynamic Coast provides information on the projected impact of coastal erosion and sea level rise to coastal communities and infrastructure.
• ClimateXChange climate risk data research focuses on the accessibility and usability of geospatial data on climate risk, such as Flood Maps (SEPA), Dynamic Coast referred to above and the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), and OS MasterMap. Reference can be made to the research briefing note for information. The research outputs identify data gaps around topics such as urban heat islands, storm damage, health & water infrastructure and landslides. Driven by engagement with planning authorities, the findings of this research will improve access, interpretation and usability for planners as they integrate climate adaptation into their spatial plans.
• High Impact Scenarios and Storylines This project will create a set of ‘high impact’ scenarios or storylines, representing plausible high-consequence but low-likelihood future climates. The scenarios will define hot, cold, wet and dry extremes, windstorms, sea level rise and compound events.
• HM Treasury’s Green Book is guidance issued on how to appraise policies, programmes and projects. It is not a mechanical or deterministic decision making device. It provides established thinking models and methods to support the provision of advice to clarify the social – or public – welfare costs, benefits, and trade-offs of alternative implementation options for the delivery of policy objectives.
• Defra has issued supplementary guidance to HM Treasury's Green Book which is tailored to climate adaptation. This guidance supports analysts and policy makers to ensure, where appropriate, that policies and projects are resilient to the effects of climate change and that these are considered when appraising options: Accounting for the effects of climate change - Supplementary Green Book guidance
• Future climate scenarios: To support future-proofed plans and strategic decision making SNAP3 (Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-29) made a commitment to develop a practical ‘climate scenario decision tool’ for operational use by public bodies. As part of this work a recent ClimateXChange (CxC) commission was published, titled ‘Future climate scenarios in today’s decisions’. This paper reviewed existing policy, guidance and Scottish stakeholder practice on future climate scenario planning. It identified common themes and recommended a blue-print for a national-level climate scenario decision tool. The research report also outlines the climate hazards, data sources, timeframes and how to best balance qualitative vs quantitative assessments.

This research will inform work to develop the climate scenario decision tool for the public sector. It has also shaped draft Statutory Guidance for Public Bodies Climate Change Duties, in line with duties contained in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The publication of the final statutory guidance (anticipated for the end of 2025) and the CxC research will collectively provide general support for public bodies on how future climate scenarios can be factored into policy areas.

7.2 Climate relevant strategies, plans and guidance

• Local place plans - By centring and empowering communities in the planning process, these efforts foster a sense of ownership and resilience. This can make adaptation strategies more effective and sustainable over the long term.
• Local and regional climate risk assessments and adaptation plans – some regions have existing climate change risk assessments and/or adaptation plans. These have been important sources of local climate risk information for some Planning Authorities.
• Coastal Change Adaptation, including Dynamic Coast Coastal Change Adaptation, Planning for Coastal Change and Climate-Ready Places - Adaptation Scotland
• National Flood Resilience Strategy
• Water-resilient places - surface water management and blue-green infrastructure: policy framework
• Place Standard Tool with a Climate Lens – The Place Standard is a free and easy to use tool to help assess places and inform the development of plans and activities to improve a place. The “Climate Lens” which has been developed to help understand how climate change may impact a local area and support the creation of plans and activities that will be more resilient to the impact of climate change and also support a places ability to reduce the impact. It covers a range of themes around which projects can be developed, for example public transport and moving around the place, streets and streetscapes, natural spaces, play and recreation and housing and community.
• NatureScot:
  • examples of nature-based solutions
  • Nature based solutions Elected Member Briefing Note: Nature-based Solutions. Sets out key features and principles for Nature-based Solutions (NbS), and their contribution to a number of key Local Government priorities. Prepared by Sustainable Scotland Network, NatureScot and COSLA.
  • NatureScots’ Planning and Development: Enhancing Biodiversity
  • NatureScots’ Climate change and nature information sheet
• Trees in Hard Landscapes: A Guide for Delivery - Trees and Design Action Group: The Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG), brings together stakeholders to support the role of urban trees through better collaboration in the planning, design, construction and management and maintenance of urban places.
• Woodland carbon code. Version 2.2: The Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) sets out requirements for voluntary carbon sequestration projects that incorporate core principles of good carbon management as part of sustainable forest management.
• The eight principles of a carbon conscious place, Architecture and Design Scotland.
• Embedding Circular Economy: An outline framework to support local authorities (2023), Zero Waste Scotland. Guidance that promotes implementation of a circular economy approach that enables sustainability outcomes including increased resilience to climate change, embodied carbon reduction and reuse of materials.

7.3 Collaborations and case studies

• Regional Climate Adaptation Partnerships: The 3rd Scottish National Adaptation Plan (2024 – 2029) establishes a commitment that the Scottish Government will work with partners to establish regional climate adaptation partnerships and collaborations covering all regions in Scotland by 2029.

This builds on existing and emerging partnerships across the country, that are driving inclusive, effective and place-based adaptation action in the context of local needs and priorities. The National Adaptation Plan proposes that regional action includes collaborating on regional risk and opportunity assessment, adaptation priority setting, and long-term planning and investment; taking a place-based approach and including diverse communities as part of action to reduce inequalities.

This work can help to inform Local Development Plans, and individual projects through identifying key climate risks, strategic adaptation priorities, and cross-boundary issues, including where actions in one place will affect another, or changes include relocation of infrastructure or individuals to an area that is more resilient to climate change. Examples of regional adaptation partnerships include:

• Climate Ready Clyde is a pioneering cross-sector initiative funded by 13 member organisations to create and deliver a shared vision, strategy, and action plan for 1.8 million people adapting to climate change across the Glasgow City Region. Key resources published by Climate Ready Clyde include:
  • A climate risk and opportunity assessment that identifies the key climate risks and opportunities for the region between now and 2100.
  • The Glasgow City Region Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan that identifies the priority interventions and flagship actions for the region to flourish in a changing climate
  • A climate vulnerability map that identifies priority location where climate risks intersect with social vulnerability
  • An evidence summary for use in Local Development Plans
  • A toolkit for assessing climate risks in the development of built environment and infrastructure projects
• Highland Adapts is bringing communities, businesses, land managers, and public sector together to facilitate transformational action towards a prosperous, climate- ready Highland. Highland Adapts is currently developing a regional climate risk and opportunity assessment.
• Climate Ready South East Scotland is a collaboration between the 6 Local Authorities of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland region to assess climate risks for the region and identify regional adaptation priorities. The regional climate risk and opportunity assessment will be published in 2025.
• The Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership has created a shared case for action being taken forward by the Climate Hebrides Community Interest Company.

• Climate Guide Case Studies - Town and Country Planning Association
• Designing for a changing climate, Architecture & Design Scotland
• Climate Action Towns report and toolkit, Architecture & Design Scotland. A report on learnings related to the Climate Action Towns project, alongside a toolkit providing a range of ideas and activities to support community-led climate action.