Executive Summary
Responding to the climate emergency remains a top priority for the Scottish Government. This of course, includes action to reduce emissions but also adapting to the current and future impacts of climate change that have already occurred, or will occur. Even if we were able to stop all emission today, there would still be adverse impacts from climate change that are ‘locked in’ due to past emissions. Climate change is also one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss, with the destruction of ecosystems undermining nature’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and protect against extreme weather, thus accelerating climate change and increasing vulnerability to it.
There are three main aspects of climate change that must be considered in responding to the climate emergency and the impacts of climate change:
- Mitigation relates to reducing and/or preventing GHG emissions, thereby reducing the scale of future impacts as far as possible;
- Adaptation is preparing for the impacts of climate change which are locked-in; and,
- Resilience is the ability to respond to the weather-related impacts of climate change and maintain normal operation of a system and its associated services.
Through their Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, the Climate Change Committee have set out 7 climate risks that relate to transport, including:
- Risks to infrastructure networks (water, energy, transport, ICT) from cascading failures
- Risks to infrastructure services from river, surface water and groundwater flooding
- Risks to infrastructure services from coastal flooding and erosion
- Risks to bridges and pipelines from flooding and erosion
- Risks to transport networks from slope and embankment failure
- Risks to subterranean and surface infrastructure fromsubsidence
- Risks to transport from high and low temperatures, high winds, and lightning
This Approach to Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience 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.
This vision will be delivered through our Adaptation and Resilience Framework, which includes four high level Strategic Outcomes and various Sub Outcomes, which collectively will address the 7 transport related climate change risks outlined above.
Our Vision
A transport system which is well adapted and prepared for current and future impacts of climate change. It is safe for all users, reliable for everyday journeys and resilient to weather related disruption
Our Strategic Outcomes
Trunk Roads
Trunk Roads which 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 well as the above Vision and Strategic Outcomes, this document sets out the following in relation to our Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience:
- An Overarching Context covering key policy documents, research, evidence and the latest climate science, such as the United Kingdom Climate Projections and Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk;
- An overview of the transport system in Scotland including road, rail, aviation and maritime networks; and,
- Consideration of adaptation and resilience across the road, rail, aviation and maritime networks and our wider activity as an organisation