Climate Adaptation

Adapting to change

Climate adaptation is about taking action to increase our resilience to the impacts of climate change.  The plans for change will have to take into account issues such as increased temperatures, flooding or drought, coastal erosion and increased storm severity and frequency. 

Climate Ready Scotland, Scotland’s climate change adaptation programme, sets out a programme to prepare Scotland for the challenges as the climate continues to change. No matter how successful the efforts to reduce new greenhouse gas emissions, it is still necessary to adapt to climate change because many impacts of past emissions are already locked-in and will lead to changes for decades to come.

There are seven outcomes in the programme of work, and Outcome One “Our communities are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe in response to the changing climate” focuses on the importance of placemaking, ensuring that each place can be planned, designed and managed to suit the needs and aspirations of the people who live there. The impacts of climate change will not be equal and are likely to particularly affect communities who already face disadvantage.

The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) is the national spatial strategy for Scotland’s long term development and sets out national planning policies  and is clear that our future net-zero, nature positive places will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change through transforming the way land and buildings are used, so that every decision contributes to making Scotland a more sustainable place.  Its six universal policies include: a plan led approach to sustainable development; and climate emergency.  NPF4’s thematic policies include: flood risk and water management; blue and green infrastructure; coasts; heat and cooling, natural places; trees; and peat. 

This link sets out more information on Scottish Government policies and background information on climate adaptation.