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REVIEW OF THE SCOTTISH CLIMATE CHANGE PROGRAMME: A CONSULTATION
ADAPTING TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
115. As mentioned in the Overview chapter of this consultation paper (paragraph 11), some climate change is now inevitable and therefore it is vital that we adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. These impacts will be felt increasingly on the environment, on communities, and on business, with implications for the way in which natural resources as well as economic and social interests are protected. Regarding the natural environment, the Executive recognises the need for further understanding of the impacts of climate change on ecosystems and for developing appropriate ways to increase resilience to those impacts.
116. The Scottish Programme referred to the development of a Scottish Adaptation Strategy and most of the strands of that strategy are now in place. A number of research studies have been commissioned into the impacts of climate change to inform our approach to adaptation, including Potential Adaptation Strategies for Scotland60 and studies on snowfall patterns and the increased risk of flooding 61. In 2002, the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations published new climate change scenarios 62 for the UK at a resolution of 50 km squares. The Executive worked closely with the British Irish Council (BIC) on the production, in 2003, of climate change scenarios for the islands within the BIC region 63, including the Western Isles, the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Isles. These scenarios were published in July 2003 to assist decision makers, particularly those who live and work on the Scottish islands, to meet the challenges posed by climate change by informing long term decisions affected by the climate.
117. The Executive has worked closely with the UK Government on a new cross-regional research programme, which is funding six projects 64 in impacts and adaptation to the tune of 400,000 over the next two years. The Executive is also working with the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research on the development of a regional partnership 65 to assist organisations in Scotland to respond to the impacts of climate change and with the UK Climate Impacts Programme66 to assist businesses and local authorities plan their adaptation response. The Executive will also work closely with the UK Government and the other Devolved Administrations in the development of a UK climate change Adaptation Policy Framework.
118. An increased flood risk will be one of the major impacts of climate change in Scotland. Following the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee of Ministers on Flooding Issues, the Executive developed a National Flooding Framework67, based on awareness, avoidance, alleviation and assistance. As part of this framework the Executive has continued to increase resources to support local authorities' investment in flood defences - to 89m in total for 2005-2008. Funding was provided to extend the Floodline68 flood warning telephone and Internet service to cover Scotland. On top of this SEPA have been given funding to produce three new flood warning schemes in Clyde, Kelvin and Irvine valleys and have been given funding to produce a second generation flood risk map which will be published early 2006. The planning system now has the ability to take greater account of flood risk due to climate change by the publication of Scottish Planning Policy (SPP7) Planning and Flooding69 and associated advice, Planning and Building Standards Advice on Flooding70(PAN 69).
119. The Executive is currently conducting a desktop analysis of the potential future trends in climate change in Scotland to determine the detailed implications for the operation and management of road networks. This will consider all elements of weather to include temperature, rainfall, snowfall, wind and the formation of ice and frost.
120. Changes in climate will have direct impact on a wide range of aspects of biodiversity - the variety of all forms of life and the natural surroundings where they live. As winters become wetter and warmer, and summers become warmer, plants and other species that prefer cold climates (e.g., birch woodlands and the Scottish crossbill) are predicted to retreat northwards, while species that thrive in warmer climates (e.g., the pink sea fan) will probably spread from the south. This is likely to change the occurrence of species and habitats in and around Scotland, and may also mean that some species are no longer able to survive at all in Scotland. Some species may be able to adapt to changes in climate, depending on the speed of the change, but other less mobile species may not find this shift so easy, especially if their habitat is already fragmented or not interconnected. The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy71, published by the Scottish Executive in 2004, identifies the challenges to biodiversity posed by climate change, and emphasises the importance of planning to increase the connections between areas of habitat, to help species shift their range in response to changes in climate. The Executive is also engaged in a range of research to understand better the potential impact of climate change on biodiversity, and to influence policy by developing and testing models of climate change.
Box 19: Consultation questions on the Scottish Adaptation Strategy
SCOTTISH ADAPTATION STRATEGY - CONSULTATION QUESTIONS (Please use the Response Template at Annex D to respond to these questions) Q.51 What further evidence of the impacts of climate change in Scotland is needed to enable effective adaptation, at the national, regional and local levels (in both the public and the private sector? Who should be responsible for producing this information? Q.52 With regard to the natural environment, how should we develop our approach to evidence gathering, strategic prioritisation and adaptation action? Q.53 How should responsibilities for adaptation be partitioned between the different tiers of government, the wider public and private sectors, and society at large? Q.54 Some stakeholders have suggested that a Scottish Executive enforcement mechanism is needed if we are to make any real advances in adaptation action. The Executive's current thinking is that effective and appropriate adaptation must be thoroughly "stakeholder-led", and is therefore not best served by enforcement. In what ways might legislation and regulation serve either as barriers to, or incentives for, progress in adaptation action? |
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