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Climate change forecasting
03/09/2007
A new online resource to help organisations think about the effects of Scotland's changing climate goes live today.
The Scottish Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SCCIP) website - at www.sccip.org.uk - offers free access to the best quality data on climate trends and their impacts on Scotland.
Scotland is already experiencing the effects of climate change with rising temperatures and more frequent winter storms. The website will provide regular updates on climate change research and promote understanding of climate science.
Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson said:
"Climate change is the most serious environmental threat facing us. Even with our ambitious targets for reducing emissions, change to Scotland's climate is unavoidable.
"It's essential that we understand the challenges - including increased flood risks and the potential opportunities - such as a longer growing season, that a changing climate will bring. Taking action now to adapt sustainably, while also reducing emissions will safeguard against damage to our economy and our environment.
"Climate change is, of course, a global issue. We are working with the UK Government and Devolved Administrations to develop a UK adaptation policy framework, to be released later this year, which will strengthen Scotland's response to climate change."
The SCCIP initiative brings together the Scottish Government, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Sustainable Scotland Network and the UK Climate Impacts Programme to help collectively address and prepare for the impacts of Scotland's changing climate.
The Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental research ( SNIFFER) provide the secretariat for SCCIP.
Ruth Wolstenholme, Managing Director of SNIFFER said: "Successful adaptation to climate change requires informed decision-making on difficult issues - we are pleased that SNIFFER's expertise in delivering high quality research is contributing to this partnership."
Lloyd Austin, Head of Conservation Policy for RSPB Scotland, noted:
"Adapting to climate change must be planned strategically so as not to cause other environmental problems and, where possible, to deliver benefits to the environment. For instance, the re-creation of wetlands to help manage flooding or the managed re-alignment of the coast to respond to sea level rise can benefit wildlife, offer tourism opportunities and protect communities.
"RSPB Scotland welcomes steps, such as the work of SCCIP, to understand and plan adaptation - and hopes this work will be enhanced and underpinned by a Scottish Climate Change Bill."
The SCCIP was established to:
- promote awareness and understanding of climate change impacts affecting Scotland whilst supporting organisations in meeting the challenges and opportunities these impacts present
- strengthen Scotland's adaptation response as a whole by providing strategic links between localised or individual activity
- engage with and seek to strengthen individual organisations resilience to a changing climate
The SCCIP is funded by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.