Climate change - draft Scottish national adaptation plan 3 2024 - 2029: consultation analysis

Summary of views from consultation workshops and unstructured email responses

The following section summarises the key themes raised by participants of 16 public consultation workshops, held by the Scottish Government alongside the written consultation analysed above. All workshops took place during the consultation period from 31^st of January until 24^th of April 2024. These events were tailored to varying audiences following two distinct purposes – either focussing on the lived and local experiences of members of the public with relation to climate change in Scotland, or on the technical policy detail of the SNAP3 involving stakeholders with interests across the Plan’s outcomes. The public workshops were organised across different areas of Scotland to ensure a wide-ranging geographical coverage. Specific workshops took place in Glasgow, South Uist, the Highlands, Angus, and Dumfries and Galloway. Technical workshops covered a range of topics across the five SNAP3 outcome areas – including on business considerations and adaptation finance, climate-resilient infrastructure, Just Transition and biodiversity.

The following sections outline the results from the thematic analysis of written reports from each workshop. This analysis aims to summarise the nature and scope of topics and respective suggestions discussed across all workshops. The following analysis also synthesises views from 12 unstructured email responses submitted by stakeholders to the consultation’s dedicated inbox.

Community wellbeing

A common theme highlighted across public workshops and unstructured emails was the importance of safeguarding community wellbeing and the need for careful management of any potential social impacts of climate change. All workshops with members of the public raised concerns about the impact of climate change on individuals’ mental and physical health and wellbeing, for example, the stress and anxiety caused by extreme weather events or the impact of heatwaves and poor air quality on physical health. Participants and respondents also discussed concerns about the financial burden of the impacts of climate change, such as damage to properties from flooding. Such financial barriers were deemed particularly challenging for groups from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who may lack the resources to cope with these impacts.

In response, public workshop insights emphasised the need to support community-based solutions that are tailored to local needs and conditions. Attendees to several public events also stressed the importance of further community engagement to ensure a diverse set of voices are heard. Workshops emphasised the importance of including marginalised individuals in the co-design, delivery, and implementation of all policies and procedures to create effective and equitable solutions.

“Ageing and isolated populations not able to cope with the impacts of flooding and heat. Health implications associated with water and/or lack of water increased in these populations.” - (Lived experience/place-based workshop)

“Include disabled people […] in the co-design, delivery and implementation of all policies and practices relating to mitigating and adapting to climate change, and resource their participation.” - (Lived experience/place-based workshop)

Challenges faced by local businesses and employment

An additional theme highlighted across workshops, particularly across technical workshops, was the challenges faced by local businesses. Participants in technical workshops expressed concerns that businesses often prioritised short-term financial goals over long-term climate resilience. Additionally, businesses were understood to possess limited knowledge about potential management strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. While larger businesses sought more information on general trends and cascading risks posed by climate change, smaller businesses would welcome more information on risks and adaptation actions specific to their business and were easy to implement.

“There is a lack of a clear narrative of risks for different types and sizes of business, and how these risks can actually be managed by them, individually or collectively.” - (Technical workshop)

Proposed solutions for businesses’ resilience

Another common theme highlighted across technical workshops was proposed solutions for supporting businesses and the economy, in the context of a changing climate. Participants in technical workshops suggested that the Scottish Government should provide more accessible guidance tailored to different types of businesses. Participants in technical workshops also called for effective monitoring and assessment procedures to track businesses’ progress in meeting climate goals or implementing operational changes. Additionally, calls were voiced across public and technical workshops for the development of education on adaptation to be integrated within the school curriculum and for vocational training to prepare the current and future workforce for a climate-resilient future.

“For medium and large businesses, the lack of appropriate information and data to support decision-making on adaptation measures is a key barrier. It’s much easier to find information about e.g. carbon lifecycle assessments of products or the financial implications of installing solar panels, compared to a cost-benefit analysis of an adaptation intervention.” - (Technical workshop)

Agriculture and food production

A frequently discussed theme was challenges and proposed solutions related to agriculture and food production. While workshops with members of the public focused on perceived challenges, technical workshops focused more heavily on solutions to address food production challenges. Public workshops highlighted concerns regarding the limited support available for smaller agricultural businesses, which were understood to struggle more with responding to the impacts of extreme weather. Workshop discussions with members of the public also raised the impact of extreme weather events on both land quality and crop viability. To address these issues, participants in technical workshops suggested promoting a greater focus on both local and diverse food systems. According to attendees, this could involve increasing public awareness of the benefits of sourcing foods locally, diversifying crop types and using marginal lands. Technical workshops also recommended improving local procurement practices by increasing opportunities for local authorities to procure food locally to strengthen the regional and local food system, as well as to prevent reliance on international supply chains, which may be exposed to greater climate-related shocks due to their greater complexity and length.

“However, ongoing climate change means there is also an increasing need to consider climate resilience as much as yield when choosing what crops to grow on that land.” - (Technical workshop)

“Scottish Government should ensure that Procurement (Scotland) Regulations are revised as a matter of urgency, to take into account the different national and international situation post-Brexit, and to realise the ambitions of the Scottish Government Good Food Nation Plan.” - (Technical workshop)

Biodiversity and environmental degradation

Biodiversity and environmental degradation were also commonly raised across both technical and public workshops as well as emails, highlighting risks directly resulting from climate change. Participants outlined the need for proactive measures by the Scottish Government especially. The decline in biodiversity observed across Scotland was also raised as a significant concern across public workshops. Participants in technical workshops discussed issues of competing land usage where land needed for conservation or climate adaptation purposes is often used for agriculture or urban development.

In response, public workshops emphasised the importance of nature-based solutions given they were seen to provide long-term benefits such as enhancing biodiversity, improving water management, and reducing urban heat. Participants in technical workshops especially recommended improved monitoring and accountability structures, with clear biodiversity metrics, to ensure that progress in biodiversity conservation can be tracked and managed effectively.

“Several people commented the grassy/green areas in their neighbourhoods were badly affected by hotter, drier weather in the summer. It was also noted that trees and shrubs were not as healthy as they used to be and this had a negative knock-on effect on the birds and wildlife which relied on them for habitat and food.” - (Lived experience/place-based workshop)

“Integrating nature-based solutions into nature networks to help connect protected areas. Riparian habitat is an excellent focal point for connectivity.” - (Technical workshop)

Public services and infrastructure

An additional theme highlighted in workshops was disruptions and necessary improvements to public services and infrastructure as a result of climate change. Workshops with members of the public raised concerns over disruptions to transport infrastructure due to weather events, leading to delays. Public workshop participants also expressed concerns about increases in power cuts during extreme weather conditions.

Attendees of technical workshops emphasised the need for continued investment into improving infrastructure in preparation for future climate change impacts, and ‘cascading risks’ across different infrastructure networks. Technical workshop participants also suggested further long-term planning and information sharing amongst infrastructure providers such as the implementation of early warning systems. These systems would allow operators to communicate potential infrastructural issues and coordinate responses.

“Public transport is already limited in this area and very unreliable due to last minute cancellations because of weather events.” - (Lived experience/place-based workshop)

“Shared infrastructure early warning system – if one operator believes or knows there is or will be an issue with their assets, this should be made [known] to all other infrastructure operators, who may depend on that asset or service, or who may face related consequences from it. This can then support more proactive support to the most vulnerable communities.” - (Technical workshop)

Vulnerable groups

The specific barriers and disproportionate impacts faced by vulnerable groups as a result of climate change were discussed across public and technical workshops. Participants discussed that vulnerable individuals and groups faced a disproportionate burden from climate change impacts, for example the elderly, children, disabled people and those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. These individuals and groups were also seen as facing particular barriers to accessing resources such as information, financial aid, and physical support.

The importance of equitable climate adaptation was highlighted particularly across public workshops, with a focus on ensuring that groups receive the necessary support. For example, it was considered crucial to account for additional costs faced by vulnerable groups, leading to calls for grants and subsidised schemes to adopt climate adaptations and mitigation. In addition, improvements to public services were recommended by attendees of public workshops, citing the state of healthcare, education, social care and infrastructure. For example, concerns were raised about the shortage of care workers for the elderly who would struggle to cope with impacts of flooding and extreme heat.

“Older people with disabilities also more […] complex to adapt, and to evacuate and support in extreme weather events, which means that additional support is required to ensure they are treated equitably in engagements and the transition.” - (Technical workshop)

“Many healthcare services are not able to meet the needs of disabled people due to inflexibility and/or inaccessibility.” - (Lived experience/place-based workshop)