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6. RESPONSE TO INITIAL THEMES
Box 4 provides a summary of themes initially proposed by the Scottish Government, as outlined to participants.
Box 4: Initial themes |
1. Local Responses to Global Change Interactions between climate, trade and demographic changes and the potentially conflicting pressures Understanding of the local impacts of events occurring at a global level 2. Sustainable Communities Understanding the considerable pressure that consumers will have on the availability of food, water and energy and our environment, through our economic and social behaviours. Understanding of the physical elements and structures and of the social and economic behaviours and interactions that exist within our communities is needed to enable them to develop in a sustainable way. 3. Sustainable Environments Understanding the complexities of competition for land, freshwater and marine resources uses and impact on natural ecosystems Clear understanding of the implications of developments and planning for 'new' or 'different' land and water uses and suggested courses of action or policies and appropriate consultation with stakeholders to produce sensible and sustainable advice, guidance and policy. 4. Support for nationally important rural, environmental and marine capability and resource Understanding of the facilities, expertise and long-term data-sets available to support current and future strategic needs and enable governments to respond to emergencies and environmental disasters. Requirements for scientific research monitoring and surveillance activities to meet rural, environmental and marine needs. National capability activities in rural, environmental and marine areas ( e.g. living collections, databases) through research programmes commissioned from its 5 Main Research Providers and the Fisheries Research Service and through the contract research fund and other funding streams for specific services. |
6.1 Specific feedback on the four proposed themes
Theme 1: Local Responses to Global Change
Whilst it is important to consider micro-impacts and potential effects, Scotland could also be part of a global response to change. Interactions between global changes and implications for Scotland could be included.
Global change includes climate change but could also include resource depletion, energy issues, and technology opportunities. The potentially conflicting pressures related to global change could be broad and include tourism and economic growth.
Demographic changes could be considered within a national and international context and national aspects could usefully consider quality of life and wealth generation. Consideration could be given to how we address demographics and identify levers to improve the rural economy.
The trade-offs in sustainable development - social, economic and environmental - could be balanced within the context of uncertainty.
Implications of climate change (and other change) could address the economic context and the threats and opportunities for Scottish industry.
In considering local responses, it is important not to think only of systems, but also the psychology and behaviour of the Scottish population.
In view of emergencies and environmental disaster there is a need to ensure rapid responses and flexibility in research where necessary.
Theme 2: Sustainable Communities
'Sustainable environment' and 'sustainable community' are closely related 8. Given that Scotland's environment is a managed landscape, it is inevitable that such an environment supports communities and is influenced by community behaviours (now and projected). There is a case to be made therefore for merging the two, and identifying components within them.
A working definition for Sustainable Communities is required, in particular whether this programme is confined to rural communities or urban communities. Given that 81% of Scotland's population lives in urban areas or small towns (Census 2001), the case was made for both.
Strong links with the economy are to be encouraged- without sustainable communities Scotland will not receive inward investment.
Behavioural studies could be included, and in particular waste/resource use. There are complex interactions between consumers affecting resource availability, and resource availability affecting socio-economic behaviour. Issues of differential segmentation and social/environmental justice could be considered here.
Community cohesion and the role of social and economic factors could be included.
Linked to this is the need to consider migration from towns into rural areas and possible future scenarios.
The overlap with theme 3 (sustainable environments) is considerable. For example sustainable food production would fit in both - consumption patterns/food security could link more closely with Theme 2 (sustainable communities), whereas environmental impacts/food safety fit more closely with Theme 3 (sustainable environments) However, such compartmentalization could be unhelpful and hence there would be merit in bringing these two themes together.
This theme could address the influence of national, regional and community governance issues as these are major factors which influence pressures and opportunities for development
It is important that issues relating to public health, transport and energy are included, all of which are inter-related.
Theme 3: Sustainable environments
See comments above regarding links with sustainable communities.
Fewer comments were received relating to this theme as most participants accepted the need and value of this work area. This theme addresses the potentially competing demands on land/marine use - between ecosystems and food production/ development, amenity and leisure. Traditional land-based industries will be required to evolve to enhance their ability to deliver sustainable environments (and communities). The theme has a focus on impacts on natural ecosystems. However, the Scottish environment is significantly man made and consideration could be given to the ability to "exploit" this in a sustainable manner rather than to 'conserve' this. The balance of activities in relation to the economic development of the environment rather than competing uses of land per se is a challenge. Stakeholder involvement for development and implementation of policy and advice is crucial. It was suggested that consideration be given to the needs of all land users and not just the public sector.
Knowledge exchange is particularly important for this theme which considers the potential conflicts (or synergies). Information is required by people who use the environment, and the implications of and for development and planning need to be clearly understood.
Theme 4: Support for nationally important rural environmental and marine capability and resource
This theme was widely supported but with a number of participants stressing the need to think creatively about integration of data - understanding the linkages and the opportunities for exploitation. There is an opportunity to review the currency of existing data sets - what needs to be retained, what needs to be modified.
The term "resource" could link health data to environmental data and high level determinants of environmental states to provide understanding of why one driver leads to changes in environmental state. It would be helpful for example to consider exposure of populations to different environmental pressures or stresses and to environmental goods.
Other comments relate to ensuring inclusion of information relating to forestry, geology, food.
The importance was recognized of the emphasis on human resource (expertise and capacity) and that this be maintained and developed in Scotland. There is an opportunity to develop and better promote knowledge inventories for Scotland. This should be set within the context of broader ( e.g. Research Council/ Universities) capability.
Such an approach (provision of science, education and training) is the basis of innovation and industry needs to access and exploit this for economic and environmental success.
Capability is not only about the perceived experts, but also a research based approach to public engagement with the science process.
6.2 Broader comments
A number of comments were made about the themes as whole. Some are more about methodology and management, but are included nevertheless for information.
- The need to address the international connections and networks and not to work in isolation in terms of global change's impact on Scotland
- Generally across the four themes, there is scope to ensure sufficient mention of health, food, tourism, climate change and energy supply
- The themes emphasize policy based research - the space for pure research and the mechanism by which this is captured could be usefully considered.
- Comments are made about research to deliver a strong (rural) economy. There is an opportunity for this programme of research to have greater focus on competitiveness and innovation and to build on opportunities and not just respond to legislation.
- Related to all themes, there is a need to assess how we provide the evidence base for policy- this is not always through new research.
- There is also a need to ensure that where appropriate, such policy (influenced by the research evidence) will be accepted in the community
- Considering implementation methodologies as part of the theme programmes.
- Linked to this is the issue of whether direction within the theme should be top down, or if there is opportunity for a public jury type approach to addressing environmental interactions and what communities want from their environment.
- Historically, research institutes led on more single issue subjects such as food production and the source of strategic direction was more obvious. In the proposed thematic approach there is need for strategic leadership.
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