Climate Change Adaptation in Scotland

Climate change policy in Scotland responds to both a UK and a Scottish framework. There are two key pieces of legislation: the UK Climate Change Act 2008 and the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. The UK Act requires a Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) every five years. It is the basis for adaptation policy in both the UK and Scotland.

Scottish Adaptation Programmes

The Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (SCCAP) addresses the impacts identified for Scotland in the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA). It sets out the Scottish Government’s objectives in relation to adaptation to climate change.

The first Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (SCCAP) was released in May 2014, followed by Climate Ready Scotland: Second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme 2019-2024, published in September 2019. The Programme takes an outcomes-based approach, derived from both the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Scotland's National Performance Framework.

A third adaptation programme – the Scottish National Adaptation Plan (SNAP3) - will come into effect 2024 – 2029. Stakeholders are invited to share their views on the draft plan, which is open for public consultation until 24^th April 2024.

Public Bodies Duties

Public bodies in Scotland are subject to legislative climate change duties as established under S44 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Public bodies are required to report annually on compliance these duties and in accordance with Schedule 2 of Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies; Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2015’ as amended by the Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020.

In reference to adaptation, the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, S4, sets out that a “public body must, in exercising its functions, act: in the way best calculated to help deliver any (Scottish statutory adaptation programme).”

In practice, this means that all public bodies listed in Schedule 1 of the ‘Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies; Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Order 2015’ as amended by the Climate Change (Duties of Public Bodies: Reporting Requirements) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020, must ensure their activities and programming are designed so as to best deliver the current adaptation programme or plan.

Many public sector organisations make use of the Adaptation Capability Framework, developed by Adaptation Scotland, to work towards these requirements. A Public Sector Climate Adaptation Network also supports public bodies to use this framework.

Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) supports public sector organisations to address their Public Bodies Climate Change Reporting duties. SSN and Adaptation Scotland align their work to ensure a comprehensive landscape of support is available for the public sector.

In addition, under the Climate Change Act (2008) some public bodies (such as critical national infrastructure) are required to report to UK Government every 5 years under the Adaptation Reporting Power, detailing the current and future predicted effects of climate change on their organisation, and their proposals for adapting to climate change.