Scottish government supporting communities to understand climate change

Communities and businesses across Scotland are to be given support and tools to help tackle the unavoidable impacts of climate change as part of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029 (SNAP3).

The plan sets out a comprehensive suite of more than 200 actions and proposals for managing the current and future impacts of climate change in Scotland.

It includes how sectors including agriculture, transport and health as well as businesses and communities will prepare for more extreme weather events, such as flooding, water scarcity and extreme periods of heat.

Measures include £5.5 million of funding this year to complete a national network of Community Climate Action Hubs to drive locally-led climate action across Scotland and investing £400 million into Scotland’s railway infrastructure to reduce weather-related disruption.

Other actions include facilitating peer-to-peer support to local governments and public services to prepare for the impacts of climate change for local populations; providing advice and support to businesses on how they can future proof their workplaces through practical check-lists on how to prepare for the impacts of climate change; and ensuring the NHS Scotland estate is prepared and equipped to deal with extreme heat and flooding.

Launching the plan at a visit to the Restoring the River Leven project, first minister John Swinney said: “While we must ensure Scotland continues to play its part in addressing the causes of climate change, we must also be ready to deal with the impacts that are already locked in giving us wetter winters, drier summers and more weather-related disruption.

“Our new Adaptation Plan is our most comprehensive response to protecting people’s lives and livelihoods against the risks of climate change - with over 200 actions to build climate resilience in our communities, businesses, public services and natural environment.

“I am proud to lead a Scotland that is driving forward the race to net zero, whilst ensuring that our country is ready for the impacts of climate change that we are already experiencing. This can be demonstrated through the Leven River Restoration Project, which has adapted the local landscape to help reduce the amount of flooding in the area, whilst restoring and encouraging wildlife and nature to flourish. It is a fantastic example of how collaborative working can use nature to adapt to the challenges we face at the same time as delivering benefit for the local community.”

Nicole Paterson, chief executive of the Scottish Environment protection Agency (SEPA), said:“Scotland’s natural environment is globally renowned and our water environment, as we can see in Leven today, is central to our environmental, economic and social success. Scotland’s water quality is at its highest level ever, with more than 87% of our water environment achieving good or high classification for water quality, with an ambition to go further.

“Our climate is already changing and as Scotland’s environment agency, we’re at the forefront of working with partners to respond and adapt. The Water Environment Fund, including The Leven Project, is a very visible story for change and a great example of how public, private and community sector partners can successfully collaborate to improve water environments, boost flood resilience and deliver community benefits.

“In Scotland’s Climate Week, it’s fitting that we hear directly from young people and community partner’s who’ve worked so hard locally and who’s future depends on the work that together we do today.”