This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Support to tackle impacts of climate change
16/11/2004
Funding announced today will help to bring together key
players from all sectors and promote research into the
risks for public services of climate change.
Environment Minister Ross Finnie said:
"Scotland's climate is changing. Over the next century
we can expect Scotland to become warmer with wetter winters
and much less snowfall. This has implications for people
across Scotland including businesses, transport operators,
public sector organisations, house builders, farmers and
insurers.
"An effective response to climate change must therefore
include measures to adapt to the anticipated impacts at the
local level and to share best practice.
"The Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for
Environmental Research has been provided with £50,000 to
promote a co-ordinated response to potential impacts and
safeguard people and property through a Scottish
partnership.
"A further £50,000 is being invested to help public
sector organisations plan better for the impacts of climate
change which could affect the ability of government
agencies to fulfil their responsibilities.
"Climate change is a reality and Scotland must be
prepared to respond to it and to grasp the opportunities
that it presents."
The aims of the Scottish Climate Change Impacts
Partnership will be:
· To increase awareness and understanding of the
potential impacts of climate change upon Scotland;
· To increase the adaptive capacity of
organisations to respond and act on climate change;
· To initiate, disseminate and build upon
research in order to a) explore further the potential
impacts of climate change on Scotland and b) investigate
effective adaptation responses to these impacts;
· To share ways of managing the risks associated
with climate change;
· To share ways of taking advantage of
opportunities arising from climate change;
· To provide a link between the many
organisations concerned with the issues of adaptation to
climate change; and
· To provide a link with regional, national and
international organisations concerned with the issues of
adaptation to climate change.
Membership of the partnership is open to any institution
or organisation - from the public sector, commerce and
business, ENGOs, the voluntary sector and the academic and
research community - with Scottish interests.
The Business Risks Research project will utilise tools
developed by the UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) and
will aim to achieve the following objectives:
· To identify key climate change impacts for each
organisation, and the organisation's policy and operational
responsibilities most vulnerable to those impacts;
· To recommend actions for adapting to identified
climate change impacts;
· To consider how key risks identified can be
addressed within integrated regional decision making
processes; and
· To recommend further research on climate change
adaptation.
Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment
Protection Agency, Forrestry Commission, Scottish Water and
Visit Scotland will take part in the study.