Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Scottish Climate Change Bill: Consultation Proposals: Environmental Report
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Scottish Climate Change Bill: Consultation Proposals: Final Environmental Report (Post-Consultation Issue) November 2008
8. SEA Monitoring Framework
8.1 SEA Indicators and Monitoring
8.1.1 The SEA Directive requires monitoring of the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the plan under consideration, in order to identify at an early stage any unforeseen adverse effects and to be able to undertake appropriate remedial action. The Directive also recognises that additional monitoring requirements may place heavy demands on responsible authorities and specifically mentions that existing monitoring arrangements may be used, if appropriate, to avoid duplication of effort.
8.1.2 As this is the first ever SEA on proposals for primary legislation in Scotland, it presents an unusual conundrum over the monitoring requirements. The SEA is carried out on the proposals for the Scottish Climate Change Bill, where the actual implementation of the 'plan' under consideration is therefore its process through the Scottish Parliament and that process, in itself, will not lead to any significant environmental effects.
8.1.3 This draft Environmental Report identifies that significant environmental effects are likely to be direct or indirect effects from measures brought forward as a result of the SCCB, rather than direct effects of the proposals themselves. Therefore when the SCCB comes into force as an Act, environmental elements would be more appropriately monitored through lower level plans, programmes and strategy frameworks, such as those discussed in Section 3 of this report.
8.1.4 Ensuring that environmental monitoring takes places as close to the policy or measure which directly affects the environment would better enable remedial action to be taken should any unforeseen environmental impacts result. Given that measures brought forward as a result of the Scottish Climate Change Bill may affect each of the environmental topics and may affect all of Scotland, the use of existing monitoring arrangements becomes especially relevant. It is highly likely that appropriate indicators exist already and are being regularly monitored and even repeatedly used for distinct strategies. Trying to monitor at the strategic level of the Bill would essentially result in a report on the general state of the Scottish environment, rather than improving transparency and enabling particular effects of specific measures to be identified.
8.1.5 Statutory Consultees, and other key stakeholders, have a significant role to play in providing information to the Scottish Government from their existing data gathering activities. The Statutory Consultees may be better placed to advise whether SEA/ environmental monitoring at the strategic level of the proposed Bill (or adopted Act) is required, or whether indicators for monitoring significant environmental effects of measures to meet the SCCB targets are indeed more appropriately addressed through lower level policies, plans and strategies.
8.1.6 Table 8.1 below presents a series of potential environmental indicators that could be used to monitor the significant environmental effects of action to meet the proposed SCCB target. It is intended to be a thought piece to initiate discussion on the type of indicators that could be used and it does not represent a final monitoring framework.
Table 8.1 Potential Indicators and Data Sources
SEA Topic |
Potential Indicators |
Potential Data Sources |
---|---|---|
Climatic Factors |
|
Disaggregated Greenhouse Gas Inventories for Scotland Oil Space Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation - progress indicators Renewables Obligation Scotland - progress indicators SEPA - flood data SNH and Forestry Commission Scotland Ecological/ Carbon Footprinting |
Biodiversity, Flora & Fauna |
|
Scottish Government Biomass Support Scheme - Provides that grant conditions must promote best environmental practice and/ or Renewables and Consent Policy Unit (Scottish Govt.) The Scottish Biodiversity Forum EIA provides for monitoring on a project level and may provide some data for the area around specific projects. Information on the number of appropriate assessments submitted may be available from SNH as statutory consultees SNH Website - http://www.snh.org.uk/about/ab-facts.asp Change in total wooded area - www.forestry.gov.uk/scotland |
Soil |
|
Land Management Contract Awards for biomass projects (Potentially through SG/ ERAD) The majority of associated soil data should be available through SEPA/ SNH/ ECOSSE Project Significant synergies with information to be monitored for renewable energy strategies and associated SEAs. Upcoming Scottish Soil Strategy may identify more applicable soil/ climate indicators. Scottish Environment Statistics. SG/ ERAD - under the Biomass Action Plan are responsible for the support of biofuel crops under LMC contracts and would likely hold this data. |
Water |
|
The Scottish Government produces an annual report to Parliament on WFD progress CAR Abstraction licensing controlled by SEPA Scottish Government Renewable energy web pages Offshore wind and hydro schemes included at:: SEPA - "Low Flows In Scotland Reports" |
Air |
|
Disaggregated Greenhouse Gas Inventories for Scotland Local Authority Odour reports register http://www.scottishairquality.co.uk/ Data from the Agricultural Business Development Scheme or the Agricultural Processing and Marketing Grants Scheme |
Human Health |
|
Food/ timber miles may be difficult to quantify Energy Savings Trust Website, Scottish Fuel Poverty Indicators Tourism, housing and health data available on the national statistics website |
Population |
|
Employment figures and tourism indicators - National Statistics Scottish Government Statistics Scottish Government Business Statistics: Scottish Government Economic Statistics: Energy Consents Unit |
Material Assets |
|
Scottish Energy Studies Scottish Government Statistics SEPA Waste Data Digest Scottish Government Statistics - Travel and Transport Scottish Government |
Landscape |
|
SNH and Historic Scotland Local Authority Core Path Plans and reports SG/ SEERAD |
Historic Environment |
|
Historic Scotland |
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