Climate change: Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024 - 2029 - easy read

The 5 Outcomes

Outcome 1: Nature connects across land, coast, and sea

Nature must be our priority when we tackle climate change. We must protect and fix the damage that has been done to our environment.

Nature is not only found in the countryside. Nature is part of our towns, cities, and villages too. Being in nature is good for our physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Climate change is the biggest threat to Scotland’s wildlife. Changing weather, extreme heat, wildfires and new pests and diseases are putting animals and plants in danger.

Strong, healthy environments can help deal with climate change. Nature supports communities to adapt to climate emergencies like floods, higher sea-levels, heatwaves, and wildfires.

We need to join up green areas in the countryside, towns and cities. We call these nature networks. Making cities and towns greener by planting grass, trees and other plants is an important part of tackling climate change.

Our oceans are important in dealing with climate change. Coastal communities need healthy fish stocks for local businesses. The sea helps store greenhouse gases.

Outcome 2: Communities are climate friendly, healthy, and fair

Where we are born, grow, live and work has a big impact on our health, wellbeing, opportunities, and experiences.

The climate emergency will change Scotland’s places. Challenges like heatwaves, flooding, and rising sea level are affecting our countryside, towns, and cities. We know these changes will get worse in the future.

To protect our communities, places will need to adapt to cope with climate change. This needs to happens while we reduce greenhouse gases.

Our places have always changed over time. We can find solutions to problems that meet each community’s needs. These solutions will be fair and make the most of what each community has.

Scotland's most disadvantaged people and communities will be affected worst by climate change. How we deal with climate change can improve everyone’s health and wellbeing.

Government, communities, businesses, and other organisations need to work together to tackle climate change and improve people’s wellbeing. We need to imagine, learn, and adapt together.

Outcome 3: Public services are working together to adapt

We need to work together to tackle climate change. We need to do this fairly and include everyone.

Public services are an important part of this. Organisations can work better and save money when adapting to climate change becomes a part of everyday life.

The law says public sector organisations must work with the Adaptation Plan and report progress every year.

Outcome 4: Businesses and industries are making changes to manage the impacts of climate change. They are exploring new opportunities

Scotland’s economy needs to adapt to climate change. We know the cost of climate change is high. It already costs our economy billions of pounds a year and these costs will continue to grow.

We must act now and keep working on this in the future. The Scottish Government and Scotland’s private businesses can work together to make our economy ready for climate change.

Businesses across all sectors are being impacted by extreme weather, which is becoming more common. This affects workers, services, the supply of products, workplaces and daily operations.

Businesses must be supported by the Scottish Government and partners to understand the risks from climate change. Then they must make their own plans and put them in action.

Climate change can also bring opportunities. We will need new businesses, jobs, and products and services to help us adapt to climate change and extreme weather.

There are already examples of companies in Scotland creating new products and services to help but we can do more.

Outcome 5: Scotland supports global action on climate adaptation.

Climate change affects the whole world. Every community will feel its effects. Some communities will be affected more than others. We are supporting communities most affected.

Scotland is a small country, but we want to take an active part in global climate action. We can share knowledge and support other countries. We can put pressure on national governments.

Some of what we can do about climate change is the responsibility of the UK Government. But the Scottish Government will do all it can around the world and at home.