Climate Change - Net Zero Nation: draft public engagement strategy - consultation

Our Approach

Our previous public engagement strategy, Low Carbon Scotland: A Behaviours Framework, published in March 2013, had a strong focus on behaviour change. The central message of this strategy was to encourage action from individuals and households in 10 Key Behaviour Areas (KBAs). It also introduced the ISM (Individual, Social, Material) tool^[1]. This tool helps policy-makers and practitioners consider the wide spectrum of factors that shape people's behaviours when designing and delivering policy to influence behaviour.

Since this strategy was published, we have seen significant increases in the level of concern about climate change. The latest results from the Scottish Household Survey show that 68% of adults in Scotland now agree that climate change is an immediate and urgent problem, up from 46% in 2013.^[2] 

In 2019, for the first time, the majority of every age group viewed climate change as an immediate and urgent problem. The largest increase is amongst 16-24 year olds, increasing from 38 percent in 2013 to 69 percent in 2019. A breakdown of results by age is included in Graph 1.

However, this large increase in concern has not been matched by evidence of a comparative increase in people taking action to address climate change. (See Annex B for a report of progress against key indicators).

Our climate ambitions are even greater now than when our last strategy was published. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has made it clear that we cannot rely on technology alone: over 60% of the measures needed to reach net zero emissions will require some degree of behavioural or societal change.^[3]

This systemic shift requires a transformation of our daily lives. Focussing solely on encouraging incremental adjustments to specific behaviours at the individual and household level is no longer sufficient as this approach does not reflect the systemic, interlinked nature of the societal transformations needed. 

An independent advisory report to the CCC on facilitating behavioural and societal change to reach net zero recommends that, in addition to supporting people to take specific concrete actions to reduce emissions, we need a strategy for creating a wider context that nurtures public engagement with action on climate change.^[4] This draft strategy responds to this recommendation, aiming to create a context that nurtures public engagement on climate change over the next 3-5 years. 

Our approach to public engagement therefore focuses on helping people feel connected to the transition to net zero. The aim of this draft strategy is to encourage meaningful engagement with people's values, interests, and concerns to facilitate a society-wide response to the climate emergency. 

Whilst we still encourage behaviour change at the individual and household level (see Annex A), we understand that any behavioural interventions we design need to address the many individual, societal, and material influences shaping our actions. We also know that behaviours aren't isolated; they link together to form our daily routines and practices. 

Our approach must reflect the complexity and inter-connectedness of all of our lives.^[5] The CCPu sets out the policies which we are putting in place across all sectors to create an environment which encourages and actively enables a net zero lifestyle for our citizens.

Our Strategic Objectives

We have three strategic objectives:

1. People are aware of the action the Scottish Government is taking to address climate change and how it relates to their lives.

2. People actively participate in shaping fair and inclusive policies that encourage adaptation to and mitigation of climate change.

3. Taking action on climate change is normalised and encouraged in communities and places across Scotland.

These objectives underpin our approach and apply both to our engagement on a green recovery and wider engagement on climate change including our just transition to a net zero society. These objectives are based on significant engagement with the public and experts in climate change engagement. In 2019, participants in the Big Climate Conversation called for a just and systemic policy approach with participation, awareness raising, and education all highlighted as important elements of action on climate change.^[6]

Within this document we set out the steps we will take at the national level to advance these objectives. We also outline our principles for public engagement (Box 1) to reflect the approach we wish to take, building on learning from leading research in climate change engagement.

Throughout the strategy we consider climate change adaptation alongside mitigation. We are already seeing warming in Scotland, with more extreme weather events and rising sea levels and, as a nation, we must adapt to these changes. 

We know that adapting to climate change will be necessary regardless of how quickly we achieve net zero emissions, due to the global nature of climate change and emissions which are already locked in. We must continue to build public understanding of climate risks and our strategies for reducing our vulnerability to them, as well as harnessing the opportunities which mitigating climate change may bring. 

Delivery of the strategy will require collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including those working with people and communities in areas relevant to climate change policy. The main audience for this strategy are these delivery stakeholders, from organisations working with small local groups up to organisations working on large national campaigns.

We are consulting on integral aspects of our approach. This will allow us to reflect the views of those integral to delivering the national endeavour required, including the public, private, and third sectors as well as communities and individuals.

Consultation Questions: Our Approach

1. Objectives

a) What are your views on the three objectives underpinning our approach to engagement on climate change? 

b) Do you think that any of these objectives should be removed or changed?

c) Are there any objectives that you think should be included that are currently missing? 

2. Principles

a) What are your views on our seven principles for public engagement set out in Box 1?

b) Do you think that any of these principles should be removed or changed? 

c) Are there any principles of good public engagement on climate change that you think are missing?

3. Other comments

a) Do you have any other comments
on our overall approach?

Box 1: Our Principles for Public Engagement

The following principles will be embedded throughout public engagement activity included within this strategy. 

Positive

Our green recovery from COVID-19 and our transition to a net zero nation bring numerous opportunities with potential benefits to our health, wellbeing, and local communities. It is important that our public engagement includes a renewed focus on these opportunities and benefits, people have the opportunity to make a real difference and our engagement must highlight this.^[7] The actions required to combat, and adapt to, climate change can create a better, and fairer, society for everyone. We are therefore committed to creating an uplifting vision which people can relate to, understand, and be motivated to achieve. 

Putting People First

Decarbonising our nation will have a significant effect on people's lives, so it is crucial that we understand and respond to people's concerns, have an inclusive decision making process, and put people in Scotland at the forefront of everything that we do. A net zero nation is not possible without the support and contribution of our citizens. Communities are not bystanders in the transition but integral players in making it a success. 

Dialogue

Conversations around climate change are essential to encourage positive social norms and dispel negative misconceptions.^[8] We are reassured by discussing these issues with those around us, knowing that climate change is a shared concern and that our combined actions are making a difference.^[9] This engagement is required for all of society, including those that will be most affected by the transition to net zero. 

Just

Climate justice and a commitment to a just transition approach are integral to the Scottish Government's response to both mitigating and adapting to climate change. It is important to understand which communities and sectors are most likely to be affected by the transition and actively engage with these groups.^[10] Those most impacted by our changing climate have often contributed least to the problem, both domestically and internationally. Working with affected communities to design and deliver our transition to net zero will ensure we address climate change in a way which is fair, and that reflects their circumstances and experiences.

Inclusive

Scotland is a nation of incredible diversity. It is important that this diversity is reflected in our transition to a net zero society and that we reach all sections of Scottish society and give them an equal say in their future. Our engagement approach will therefore be inclusive and accessible to all.

Evidence-Based

We will ensure that we engage with research, encouraging collaboration between experts and policy makers. An evidence-based approach will result in real and lasting social transformation. To that end, we will communicate research findings so that all members of the public can engage with the latest developments. By working in collaboration with experts, duplication can be avoided, gaps in research identified, and the evidence base expanded. 

Open & Transparent

The Scottish Government is committed to being an Open Government with these values placed at the heart of our National Performance Framework. Regarding our approach to climate change, we will be open and transparent to make sure people can see and understand our actions.