Climate change - Scottish National Adaptation Plan: annual progress report 2024-2025

Footnotes

1 Accessible green and blue spaces are natural environments such as parks, woodlands, rivers, and lakes that are open and easy for the public to access. These spaces typically have paths, signage, and public entry points. Inaccessible green and blue spaces refer to similar natural areas that are not open for public use due to physical barriers, private ownership, or lack of paths or entrances. These spaces may be visible but cannot be readily entered by the public.

2 Urban areas are defined using NRS Settlement Area 2022 with population greater than or equal to 3,000.

3 Changes to data collection in the SHS and SHCS during the pandemic mean that time series data is interrupted from 2020 – 2021. More detail is available here.

4 To note that the data presented represents the most recently available data published by NatureScot. Updated data is in development and future adaptation progress reports will include this once it is available.

5 Gillings, S. et al. (2015) Directionality of recent bird distribution shifts and climate change in Great Britain. Global Change Biology, 21: 2155-2168

6 Fox, R. et al. (2015). The state of the UK’s Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wareham, Dorset.

7 To note that the data presented represents the most recently available data published by NatureScot. Updated data is in development and future adaptation progress reports will include this once it is available.

8 To note that the data presented represents the most recently available data published by NatureScot. Updated data is in development and future adaptation progress reports will include this once it is available.

9 Carrol, M. et al. (2017) Kittiwake breeding success in the southern North Sea correlates with prior sandeel fishing mortality. Aquatic Conservation, 27: 1164-1175.

10 Figures are cumulative over time

11 Changes to data collection in the SHS and SHCS during the pandemic mean that time series data is interrupted from 2020 – 2021. More detail is available here.

12 These include the Scottish Flood Forecast, which highlights any likely flood areas; Live flood information for flood alerts and warnings and the Flooding website which includes flood forecasting, maps, information and advice.

13 Changes to data collection in the SHS and SHCS during the pandemic mean that time series data is interrupted from 2020 – 2021. More detail is available here.

14 Flood Re is an initiative between the UK Government and insurers which works to ensure the availability and affordability of home insurance including flood cover. The Build Back Better initiative was introduced in 2022, and provides additional funding for eligible properties to rebuild following a flood using flood resilience and resistance measures for their property.

15 Changes to data collection in the SHS and SHCS during the pandemic mean that time series data is interrupted from 2020 – 2021. More detail is available here.

16 Data on the number of funded grant applications that include adaptation measures will be available from 2026 onwards. The data presented in the 2024-25 progress report captures climate change references generally.

17 Qualitative analysis of public bodies reporting is undertaken based on the following categories: none = no response or stated not applicable; limited = assessment focused on a single issue (e.g. flooding); comprehensive = addressing a range of climate risks’ advanced = approach combining comprehensive risk assessment with stakeholder engagement

18 Qualitative analysis of public bodies reporting is based on the following categories: none = no action reported or no response; limited = limited action or policy measures with no evidence of how risks are being assessed; comprehensive = action to address a suite of risks; advanced = strategy or adaptation pathway with targets to assess progress on risk management and actions to address shortfalls.

19 A return period is defined by SEPA as ‘A term used to express flood probability. It refers to the estimated average time gap between floods of a given magnitude’ ss-nfr-p-002-technical-flood-risk-guidance-for-stakeholders.pdf

20 The survey results for Scotland represent business with 10 or more employees.

21 The survey results for Scotland represent business with 10 or more employees.

22 For full details of the variables related to adaptation included in this indicator please see the SNAP3 monitoring and evaluation framework

23 As at 01 April 2025. Note - as a contract may have multiple Options the area may well be repeated

24 The required data for this indicator for each relevant stock are taken from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) assessments of annual fishing mortality F and spawning stock biomass B , and the corresponding ICES estimates for the MSY reference points for fishing mortality and spawning stock biomass, where available.