Scottish Climate Survey: main findings

• the level of uptake of adaptation actions was relatively low overall, and particularly low for flood resilience measures, which had been installed by just three per cent of households
• the most commonly reported adaptation actions were: keeping blinds or curtains closed during warm weather (47%); actions to reduce the likelihood of wildfires when in the outdoors (29%); and signing up to receive severe weather warnings or flood alerts (27%)
• the most common reasons that respondents gave for not taking action to adapt to climate change were: limited knowledge about what to do and how to do it (36%); the perceived cost of adaptation actions (33%); and not seeing such actions as necessary for them or their homes (32%)

Taking adaptation action

Respondents were asked which, if any, of a set of actions related to weather and climate they had taken. More than seven in ten (72%) reported they had taken at least one of these actions.

As shown in Figure 4.1, the most common action was keeping blinds or curtains closed during warm weather, with almost half of respondents (47%) reporting they had done this. The next most common adaptation actions were action to reduce the likelihood of wildfires when in the outdoors (29%), signing up to receive severe weather warnings or flood alerts (27%), and intentionally reducing how much water they or their household use and/or fitting a water saving device (21%). Fewer reported that they had changed their garden or outdoor space to allow rainwater to soak away more easily (15%), supported a relative, friend or neighbour to prepare for severe weather (10%) or worked with others to better protect their community from severe weather impacts (7%).

Figure 4.1: Actions to adapt to weather and climate

Q. Which, if any, of the following actions have you taken?

Base: All respondents – Kept blinds or curtains closed (4,038), Taken action to reduce likelihood of wildfire (4,025), Signed up to receive weather warnings (4,022), Intentionally reduced water use (4,020), Supported a relative, friend or neighbour (4,016), Worked with others (4,014)

Base: All households – Changed garden / outdoor space (3,412), Installed flood resilience measures (3,418)

Just three per cent of households said they had installed flood resilience measures in their home (e.g. flood doors, air bricks, or tiled floors and raised electrics so if water does enter it causes as little damage as possible).

There was a small difference in the uptake of flood resilience measures between respondents who reported having experienced flooding and those who have not, with those who had experienced flooding being slightly more likely to report having installed such measures (5%, compared to 2% of those who have not experienced flooding). This low uptake of flood resilience measures is consistent with previous research[1] conducted by Ipsos for ClimateXChange, which found that installing flood resilience measures was among the adaptation actions respondents were least likely to take in future.

Generally, there was little variation across subgroups on past action or future intention in relation to installing flood resilience measures, including no notable differences between homeowners and tenants or between those living in a flood risk area and those not.

Respondents who reported knowing at least a fair amount about climate change were more likely than those who only knew a little or nothing at all to report having taken action across a range of adaptation measures. These included signing up for severe weather alerts (32%, compared to 25%), changing their garden or outdoor space to allow for better drainage (17%, compared to 15%), intentionally reducing how much water they use and/or fitting a water saving device (24%, compared to 19%), working with others to better protect their community from severe weather impacts (10%, compared to 3%) and taking action to reduce the likelihood of wildfires (36%, compared to 21%).

Older respondents aged 70 and over were generally less likely than all other respondents to have taken adaptation actions, including taking action to reduce the likelihood of fires (24%, compared to 29% overall), signing up to receive severe weather warnings or flood alerts (15%, compared to 27% overall) and supporting a relative, friend or neighbour to prepare for severe weather (3%, compared to 10% overall).

Across all of the adaptation actions listed, only a small proportion (ranging between 3% and 9%) of respondents who were not already taking each action said they intended to do so in the future. Future intention to take adaptation action was typically higher among young people aged 16-34 and lower among older people aged 55 and over. For example, those aged 16-34 were more likely to report future intention to work with others to better protect their community from severe weather impacts (14%, compared to 8% overall), to reduce how much water they use (15%, compared to 9% overall) and to sign up for severe weather alerts (14%, compared to 9% overall).

Reasons for not taking action

When asked about the reasons preventing them from taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change, respondents most frequently mentioned needing more information about what to do and how (36%) (Figure 4.2). A third (33%) also reported that the costs of taking action were a barrier or that they did not think that taking adaptation measures was necessary for them or their home (32%). Almost one in five (18%) cited not knowing anyone else who has done it as one of the reasons stopping them from action. Equal proportions (13%) of respondents said that they have never considered taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change and that it is inconvenient (e.g. disruptive, time-consuming) to do so.

Figure 4.2: Reasons for not taking action to adapt to climate change

Q. What, if anything, stops you from taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change?

Base: All respondents (4,061)