Scottish climate change adaptation programme: progress report 2019

Annex A: Summary of Significant Achievements of The 2014 Programme

Significant achievements and developments in climate change adaptation to date in Scotland, highlighted by previous Annual Progress Reports, include:

Natural Environment

• Significantly improved data on coastal change with Scotland's National Coastal Change Assessment.
• Progress by the Peatland Action Fund and Climate Change Plan commitments to restoring large areas of peatland.
• Climate Change Plan commitments to increasing forestry.
• New Forestry Strategy and Fourth edition of UK Forestry Standard.
• SNH's Green Infrastructure Fund.
• Appointment of Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland in 2017 and launch of the Centre of Expertise in Plant Health in 2018.
• In May 2019, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service announced a new approach to preventing wildfires.

Buildings and Infrastructure

• £42 million Scottish Government funding pledged annually to 2026 for local authority flood protection schemes.
• Scotland's Flood Risk Management Framework.
• SEPA's updated National Flood Risk Assessment.
• Comprehensive programme of engagement on flood risk, including RiverTrack flood alert projects.
• Mapping Flood Disadvantage report.
• National Centre for Resilience.
• Programme for Government commitment on Blue-Green Cities and investment in the Scottish Storm Water Management Strategy.
• The more resilient Queensferry Crossing, the biggest infrastructure project in Scotland in a generation.
• A82 Steep Ground Harvesting Project.
• Climate Change Plan commitments to improving the energy performance of our housing stock.
• Risk Assessment of Historic Environment Scotland's Estate with 336 properties in care.
• Historic Environment Scotland's Engine Shed building conservation centre.
• Climate risk assessments by every NHS Board.
• Estates review by the University of St Andrews.
• In May 2019, SNH published Looking ahead – planning for coastal change.

Society

• Strong adaptation focus of key public bodies and publicly-owned companies: SEPA, Scottish Water, the NHS in Scotland, SNH, Scottish Forestry, Historic Environment Scotland, Marine Scotland and Transport Scotland.
• Collaborative regional and city partnerships: Climate Ready Clyde, Edinburgh Adapts, Aberdeen Adapts and Levenmouth Adapts.
• NHS Scotland climate change risk assessment process.
• ClimateXChange, Health Facilities Scotland and Health Protection Scotland scoping study on overheating risks in buildings housing vulnerable people.
• A move from voluntary to mandatory public bodies reporting duties.
• The many activities and resources of the Adaptation Scotland support programme delivered by sustainability charity Sniffer funded under contract to the Scottish Government.
• Adaptation Scotland's guidance for public sector and business sector, and adaptation VIBES (Scottish Environment Business) Award.
• Climate adaptation indicators.
• The appointment of Adaptation Research Fellowships to help address research priorities.
• Adaptation plan at Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Reserve.
• British-Irish Council Environment Work Sector collaboration on adaptation.
• The Scottish Government's Climate Justice Fund support for adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa's most climate-vulnerable communities.
• EU consultation on its Adaptation Strategy.