Climate change - adaptation programme: progress report 2021

Chapter 2: Progress towards "the people in Scotland who are most vulnerable to climate change being able to adapt and climate justice being embedded in climate adaptation policy"

The second chapter of SCCAP2 includes policies to ensure that adaptation is focused directly on empowering the people who are more vulnerable to climate change and that adaptation actions are just and put people first. This approach to building resilience forms part of the Scottish Government's wider commitment to a just transition to a net-zero emissions society, as reflected in the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019.

Our people-centric approach recognises that those who are already vulnerable are more at risk of the adverse effects of climate change and may not have the tools they need to be able to adapt. Vulnerable people – those who are socially disadvantaged, older, very young, experiencing chronic health problems, or who live in poor housing or in areas prone to flooding, for example – are all more likely to experience both immediate and long term negative impacts of climate.

There are parallels which can be drawn between vulnerability to climate change and what has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. While both have and will affect all of us, the impacts are not felt evenly across society. This thinking supports our whole systems approach to building climate change resilience and the need for a green economic recovery from the pandemic which does not leave anyone behind.

Progress towards policies in support of the sub-outcome that "the most vulnerable to climate change in Scotland are engaged, empowered and able to adapt to climate change"

Scottish Flood Forum - The Scottish Government continues to grant fund the Scottish Flood Forum to work with communities at flood risk. The grant was increased to £193,000 in 2020-21 to enable the Forum to support and build resilience in communities at flood risk and manage the work of the Property Flood Resilience Delivery Group.

Flood forecasting and warning services - A Flood Guidance Statement is issued daily to all of Scotland's emergency response, utility and transport organisations 365 days a year. The Floodline service continues to provide information to registered users on when flooding is likely in their area. Both services remain operational during the pandemic response. Furthermore, in 2020, SEPA launched two new flood warning schemes for Aberfoyle and the Outer Hebrides and Local Authorities are continuing to work in partnership and with SEPA to develop the 2022 -2027 Local Flood Risk Management Plans.

ERDF Green Infrastructure Community Engagement Fund - Led by NatureScot, the Fund chose eleven projects and, in 2020, all completed their work. One project, led by Central Scotland Green Network Trust, co-designed a rain garden which will be incorporated into one of the Phase 2 Green Infrastructure Fund projects. Another, the Forest College initiative at Newbattle Community Forest, was winner in the Youth & Education category of the Nature of Scotland awards.

Progress towards policies in support of the sub-outcome that "Scotland's health and social care is ready and responding to changing demands as a result of the changing climate"

Our Natural Health Service Programme: This cross-sectoral collaboration, led by NatureScot and with area health boards and local authorities as key stakeholders, has seen four Green Health Partnerships (GHPs) progressed as demonstrators in Lanarkshire, Dundee, North Ayrshire and Highland. They use the natural environment as a local resource, connecting people and nature to deliver physical, mental and social health outcomes. The contribution of GHPs to adaptation outcomes was recognised in climate action plans in Dundee and North Lanarkshire. The Programme includes the NHS Greenspace Demonstration Project whereby greenspace around healthcare facilities has been improved, to contribute to health, biodiversity and climate change outcomes. The achievements and key learning points were published in April 2020 in the report "Unlocking the Potential of NHS Greenspace for Health and Wellbeing."

Supporting Active Travel - The past year has seen a significant increase in active travel investment, particularly in walking and cycling infrastructure. As well as public health and emissions reduction benefits, investment in active travel increases the options for travel so that communities can stay connected when climate change impacts roads or public transport. The Scottish Government budget for 2020-21 increased the overall active travel budget to £100.5 million from £80 million in 2018-19 and 2019-20. Specific recent investments include:

• In 2020-21, £3.7 million funding was allocated to extend and improve the National Cycling Network. Since 2010, SusTrans have managed the 'Places for Everyone' fund, which invited local authorities to bid for over £50 million of funding to develop walking and cycling infrastructure.
• In 2020-21 the Scottish Government invested £94.2 million capital budget on ambitious on and off-road segregated walking and cycling routes, safer junctions and improved place design.
• In 2020-21, a £0.9 million 'E-bike Grant Fund' assisted local authorities, public sector agencies, education institutions, active travel hubs and community groups to adopt e-bikes, adaptive and cargo bikes as more sustainable alternatives to car journeys and for last mile delivery.
• In 2019 the Scottish Government launched the £1.3 million 'Social Housing Fund' for improved walking and cycling facilities to encourage active travel within communities, particularly those in areas of multiple deprivation. A further £0.3 million has then been invested in 2020-21.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service 'Safe and Well' Programme - The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is working in collaboration with partners and communities to ensure collective resources jointly tackle issues related to inequality and protect those citizens at greatest risk. This is particularly important as individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities are also most at risk from climate change impacts. As part of the SFRS Change Portfolio Programme, the Service is developing its 'Safe and Well' project, which will see an expansion of the Home Fire Safety Visit programme to incorporate wider health and social care considerations. Working with a range of partners, both internal and external, the project will include the development of bespoke ICT systems to record activity and provide referrals directly to partners. Safe and Well is progressing for roll out in 2021, but this may be impacted by COVID-19.

Preparing for a warmer climate: Water Refill Locations - Scottish Water has now installed 38 refill points across Scotland. The growing network has already saved the equivalent of 300,000 single use plastic bottles since the first tap went live outside Holyrood on 27 September 2018. Every refill tap is fitted with a monitor which records how much tap water is used and in December 2020 total use passed the milestone 100,000 litre mark.

New Cleaner Air for Scotland Strategy: A Scottish Government consultation on a draft new air quality strategy, Cleaner Air for Scotland Strategy 2 concluded in January 2021. The consultation paper puts forward an integrated policy approach as one of the general themes to ensure that policies for climate change adaptation and mitigation, placemaking and other related policies should be closely coordinate and aligned with air quality policies to maximise co-benefits. The final strategy, taking into account consultation responses, will be published later in 2021.

Electric Vehicle Charging Network - The use of electric vehicles helps to improve local air quality and therefore increases public health, wellbeing and wider community resilience. The ChargePlace Scotland network now has over 1200 publically available charge points, an increase of over 350 since 2019. Other achievements to improve accessibility of electric vehicles include:

• Since 2015, providing over 2500 interest free loans issued to households and businesses over the lifetime of the loan to support the purchase of an ultra-low emission vehicle;
• Since 2018/19, providing 28 electric car clubs to Scottish communities through our Plugged in Communities Programme
• Since 2014, supporting the procurement of over 2400 zero and ultra-low emission vehicles in public sector fleets.

How the Adaptation Scotland Programme is supporting progress towards this outcome

The Adaptation Scotland programme continues to collaborate with Public Health Scotland to increase awareness of the links between health inequalities, climate change adaptation and climate justice.

The Adaptation Capability Framework developed through the programme continues to provide Health Boards with guidance on how to develop their work to adapt to climate change. The Framework is endorsed by NHS National Services Scotland and compliments their specialist climate change risk assessment resources.

Adaptation Scotland is also continuing to support development of the "Place Standard with a climate lens" toolkit (see chapter 1), and is developing and testing new climate change content as part of a newly established working group. Adaptation Scotland is also drawing learning from the Social Impact Assessment completed as part of the development process for the Climate Ready Clyde Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan as well as their emerging concept of 'Just Resilience' and will use these to inform development processes for adaptation planning across place-based initiatives.