Child Rights and Wellbeing Screening Sheet - Transport Scotland Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (ACCAR)
Brief Summary
Name the policy, and describe its overall aims. Which National Outcomes does this policy/measure contribute to?
Transport Scotland’s Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (ACCAR)
The Approach to Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience (ACCAR) sets out Transport Scotland’s current approach to adaptation and resilience in relation to climate change. It highlights the key messages and urgency scores for infrastructure risks, derived from the Climate Change Committees (CCC) independent assessment of UK Climate Risk (CCRA3), which provides evidence to inform the UK Government’s UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2022 (UKCCRA3).
The ACCAR addresses climate risks relating to transport identified under the CCRA3 & UKCCRA3. The risks are detailed across four high-level Strategic Outcomes and various Sub-Outcomes through which a well-adapted and resilient transport network for the future is delivered, including:
- Trunk Roads - Trunk Roads that are well adapted and resilient to the current, projected and unexpected impacts of climate change.
- Rail Network - Supporting the delivery of climate change adaptation and resilience for Scotland’s Rail network.
- Aviation Network - Engaging with aviation stakeholders to support their decision making in relation to climate change adaptation and resilience.
- Maritime Network - Contributing to safeguarding lifeline ferry services, ports, harbours and canals in response to the threat of climate change.
As a result, the ACCAR sets out an ambitious vision for a well-adapted transport system in Scotland which is safe, reliable and resilient in relation to the current and future impacts of climate change.
The ACCAR contributes to the following National Outcomes:
- We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe.
- We value, enjoy, protect and enhance our environment.
What aspects of the policy/measure will affect children and young people up to the age of 18?
The Articles of the UNCRC and the child wellbeing indicators under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 apply to all children and young people up to the age of 18, including non-citizen and undocumented children and young people.
The ACCAR will not set out any specific powers or targets that do not already exist, nor will initiate any legislation. Furthermore, the ACCAR itself will not cover any specific technologies or introduce new restrictions or measures that could affect children and young people up to the age of 18.
What likely impact – direct or indirect – will the policy/measure have on children and young people?
‘Direct’ impact refers to policies/measures where children and young people are directly affected by the proposed changes, e.g. in early years, education, child protection or looked after children (children in care).
‘Indirect’ impact refers to policies/measures that are not directly aimed at children but will have an impact on them. Examples include: welfare reforms, parental leave, housing supply, or local transport schemes.
The ACCAR does not set out any policies that will directly affect children and young people and the focus is on adapting existing national transport infrastructure to climate change. Therefore, it is also not likely that there will be any indirect impacts on children and young people at this stage. Subsequent policy work and plans will consider the potential impacts on children and young people.
Which groups of children and young people will be affected?
Under the UNCRC, ‘children’ can refer to: individual children, groups of children, or children in general. Some groups of children will relate to the groups with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010: disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. ‘Groups’ can also refer to children by age band or setting, or those who are eligible for special protection or assistance: e.g. preschool children, children in hospital, children in rural areas, looked after children, young people who offend, victims of abuse or exploitation, child migrants, or children living in poverty.
No individual children, group of children or children related to the groups with protected characteristics will be affected by this programme.
5. Is a Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment required?
Please state if a CRWIA will be carried out or not. Please explain your reasons.
Transport Scotland did not consider it proportionate to carry out a full CRWIA assessment as the ACCAR does not set out any new policies that are considered likely to have an impact on children or young people.