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

Conclusions from written, email and workshop responses to consultation

The Scottish Government invited views from a wide range of stakeholders and members of the public on the draft SNAP3, seeking inputs on the ambition and interventions presented in the draft policy plan for 2024-29. Consultation was undertaken through several formats – i) an online consultation consisting of 32 questions, hosted via Citizen Space, ii) a dedicated email inbox for structured and unstructured email responses for stakeholders to submit views on SNAP3, and iii) a series of workshops, inviting the public and technical experts to engage in dialogue over the proposed plan.

Responses discussing Lived and Local Experiences highlighted the extent and nature of adverse economic impacts, including rising costs and frequent disruptions to key services and supply chains. Across the written consultation and workshops, respondents emphasised the direct consequences of more frequent extreme weather events, resulting in the loss of native wildlife and decreased resilience of natural ecosystems. Declines in biodiversity across Scotland were raised as a particular concern in workshops with members of the public. To address these issues, responses encouraged the Scottish Government to prioritise building greater climate resilience. This included improving transport and water infrastructure resilience as well as reinforcing coastal and flood defences. Additionally, it was suggested that updated guidance and regulations should be prioritised by the Scottish Government to encourage all households to build greater resilience.

For Outcome One: Nature Connects, the majority of written consultation responses supported increasing trees and green spaces in built-up places for flood resilience. Similarly high levels of support were voiced for restoring forests and peatlands. Written consultation responses also stressed the importance of waterway and coastal management, in addition to the prioritisation of integrated urban nature networks. Suggested improvements for blue and green spaces included improved ecosystem management at the local level, the introduction of more native wildlife and plants, and the development and maintenance of accessible, user-friendly walkways to increase leisure opportunities. Biodiversity and environmental degradation were also commonly raised across technical and public workshops and stakeholder emails. Discussions across workshops highlighted the risks presented by climate change as well as the need for proactive measures by the Scottish Government to support the natural environment and biodiversity. Similar to written consultation responses, participants in public workshops emphasised the long-term benefits of nature-based solutions to challenges such as water management and reducing urban heat.

For Outcome Two: Communities, written consultation responses emphasised the importance of mobilising additional resources to help individuals and businesses adapt to climate change. Workshops with members of the public highlighted particular concerns about the impact of climate change on mental and physical wellbeing, for example, the stress and anxiety caused by extreme weather events or the impact of heatwaves and poor air quality on physical health. Proposed measures to address these issues included providing financial support, incentives, and funding opportunities for climate adaptation. Respondents also stressed the significance of collaborative action within and between the public and private sectors to pool resources, share expertise, and foster innovation. Public workshop insights further stressed the need for community-based solutions and increased community engagement that are tailored to local needs and conditions. Attendees at several public events placed particular emphasis on supporting marginalised and vulnerable groups through inclusive community-based solutions and ensuring equitable participation in policy development.

For Outcome Three: Public Services and Infrastructure, written consultation responses expressed mixed views on the Climate Change Committee’s advice to adapt to 2ºC of warming and assess the risk for 4ºC. While organisations were highly likely to agree with the advice, individuals expressed strong levels of disagreement. Those in agreement underscored the benefits of early adaptation to climate change, however, some respondents noted personal challenges in taking personal steps to adapt. Regarding further guidance and planning, a strong majority of organisations (97%) agreed that further guidance would be useful when making plans and investment decisions in their organisation or business, in contrast to 43% of individuals who would find this useful. Similarly, 96% of organisations in contrast to 42% of individuals agreed that an assessment of cascading risks from weather-related disruption to infrastructure would aid adaptation efforts. While some respondents acknowledged the importance of an assessment of cascading risks from climate, others expressed scepticism towards the notion of climate change itself, which influenced their views on the necessity of the assessment and overall Plan. Attendees of technical workshops emphasised the need for continued investment in improving infrastructure in preparation for future climate change impacts and ‘cascading risks’ across different infrastructure networks. Further suggestions were voiced to strengthen long-term planning and information sharing amongst infrastructure providers such as the implementation of early warning systems.

Focused on Outcome Four: Economy, Business, and Industry, businesses were understood to face challenges accessing advice and support on climate risks due to their limited resources and financial constraints. Respondents also noted that businesses prioritise financial incentives over long-term sustainability considerations. Similar concerns were expressed in technical workshops, highlighting an emphasis on short-term financial goals. Consultation respondents recognised the impacts of climate change on supply chains, both domestically and internationally, leading to shortages, delays, and growing financial costs. Respondents called for increased investment and incentives to support resilient supply chains along with greater support for local food production. Discussions on agriculture and food production were also common across both public and technical workshops, underscoring the need for more local and diverse food systems. This included increasing public awareness of the benefits of sourcing foods locally, diversifying crop types and using marginal lands. Views on opportunities arising from climate change for business and innovation particularly centred on agriculture and energy technologies. Written consultation responses stressed the need for financial support, education, training, and knowledge sharing to enable businesses to take advantage of these opportunities. Across technical and public workshops, calls were made for the integration of climate adaptation education into the curriculum to prepare the current and future workforce for a climate-resilient future.

For Outcome Five on International Action, respondents called for increased financial and practical support from the Scottish Government to aid international communities affected by climate change. It was recommended that this support should include adaptation and resilience-building projects benefitting vulnerable communities. However, some respondents disagreed with this approach, suggesting that government efforts should prioritise domestic issues. Further calls were made for research into resilient infrastructure and environmental protection, particularly in areas such as water management techniques and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, respondents called for more education, knowledge-sharing and awareness surrounding the impacts of climate change internationally. There was minimal discussion of international action across public and technical workshops.

When considering SNAP3 Enabling Factors, written consultation responses identified several barriers to greater private investment in adaptation action. Economic barriers included insufficient returns on investment and the difficulty in acquiring the necessary upfront funds for adaptation projects. Policy-related barriers were also understood to impede investments, such as a lack of targeted and suitable regulatory, fiscal, or environmental policies. The majority of respondents expressed support for the four proposals outlined in the draft SNAP3, aimed at improving the conditions for greater private investment for adaptation. Notably, 91% of organisations in contrast to only 42% of individuals agreed or strongly agreed with the proposed approach to monitoring and evaluating progress of the Adaptation Plan. Respondents supported the proposed outcome areas and suggested using additional socio-economic measures, including health and wellbeing indicators such as mortality rates and heat-related illnesses. They also recommended environmental indicators to estimate environmental performance and the quality of biodiversity were also recommended. Participants in technical workshops emphasised the need for clear biodiversity metrics to ensure that progress in biodiversity conservation can be tracked and managed effectively.

Discussing questions around Impact Assessments, recommendations were made by consultation respondents to enhance positive impacts or mitigate negative consequences of the Adaptation Plan on individuals and groups with protected characteristics. These recommendations included increased community engagement, improved communication as well as collaboration with relevant organisations, businesses, and institutions. However, some participants suggested no additional measures should be taken, expressing concerns about the financial cost of the Plan as a whole. Mixed viewpoints were also raised in the consultation on the Plan’s impact on children’s rights. Consultation respondents noted the impacts of climate change on children’s quality of life, particularly their mental health. Respondents stressed that the Plan may lead to a safer living environment and improve overall standards of living. Throughout responses, a strong emphasis was placed on the importance of school education and incorporating community and expert insights into policies affecting future generations. Suggestions across workshops also included involving vulnerable individuals and groups in the co-design, delivery and implementation of all policies and practices related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Views diverged in written consultation responses on the impact of the Plan on Island communities. Concerns focused on the state of Island infrastructure, including ferry connectivity, prompting calls for prioritising investments into climate-resilient infrastructures and services. Additionally, consultation respondents expressed support for increased tailored community engagement and participation. Beyond the written consultation’s focus on children and island communities, participants in public and technical workshops discussed concerns related to the elderly, disabled people and those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

Overall, clear differences could be detected between written responses from individuals and organisations, as well as between written consultation responses and workshop contributions across several areas. Individual respondents to the written consultation were frequently more critical of taking adaptation and mitigation action against climate change. In contrast, organisational respondents showed significant support towards the adaptation approaches outlined in the draft SNAP3, including monitoring, evaluation, and assessments on cascading risks from weather-related disruptions to infrastructure. Workshop insights primarily reflected participants’ emphasis on the importance of community wellbeing and the benefits of community and nature-based solutions. Concerns were raised in workshops about the lack of climate resilience and adaptation strategies among local businesses and across the agricultural sector. These insights collectively underscore the importance for the Scottish Government to continue to consult diverse stakeholder groups throughout the implementation of SNAP3, as well as future National Adaptation Plans.