Ministerial Foreword

We are living in a global climate emergency. The impacts of climate change, caused by human influence, are already being felt in Scotland, with increased rainfall, hotter temperatures and rising average sea levels. These trends are expected to continue and intensify, with future impacts likely to be more severe than we have experienced so far.

Scotland’s transport system is vulnerable to these increased, more intense weather events, which can contribute to the deterioration of assets, disruption to networks, and potentially hazardous incidents. This disruption often disproportionately impacts vulnerable communities with fewer and less resilient transport options; adapting the transport system to be resilient to these impacts, which are seen as inevitable, is vital as we work towards a Just Transition.

Transport is currently Scotland’s largest sectoral emitter of greenhouse gases, responsible for 37% of Scotland’s total emissions. The Scottish Government is committed to ending Scotland’s contributions to the causes of global climate change through a commitment to a 75% cut in emissions by 2030 and Net Zero emissions by 2045. The transport sector will play a key role in achieving these targets and further, phasing in new types of infrastructure as we move to Net Zero provides us with an opportunity to build adaptive capacity and resilience.

Even with our commitment to Net Zero emissions by 2045, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will continue to increase for the coming decades, and average global temperatures will rise. Scotland must act now to adapt and increase resilience to the ‘locked-in’ impacts of climate change to avoid costly and disruptive consequences for our people, communities and economy as well as adverse effects on our natural environments and biodiversity.

A priority of our National Transport Strategy (NTS2) is to ‘Take Climate Action’, with outcomes of ‘helping to deliver our net-zero targets’; ‘promoting greener, cleaner choices’; and ‘adapting to the effects of climate change’.

Transport Scotland’s Approach to Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (ACCAR), outlines the key climate risks affecting Scotland’s transport system and sets out our strategic outcomes for Road, Rail, Aviation and Maritime transport networks, whilst recognising our varying levels of influence.

Our vision is for Scotland’s transport system to be well adapted and prepared for the current and future impacts of climate change. A transport system that is safe for all users, reliable for everyday journeys and resilient to weather related disruption.