Listen
Combating climate change
19/03/2008
Ground breaking Scottish research that is contributing to worldwide knowledge about climate change was outlined at a meeting today between leading scientists and Scottish Ministers.
The briefing was organised to update the Climate Change and Environment Ministers on some of the work being carried out at Scotland's environmental, agricultural and biological research institutes, which are internationally renowned for the high quality of their work.
The research projects that were discussed included:
- Developing measures to slow down the release of carbon from soils - an important source of greenhouse gases
- Using anaerobic bacteria to ferment waste plant material and create the fuels of the future - ethanol and butanol - to reduce the burning of fossil fuels
- Developing new crops and plants that are more resilient to heat and drought
- Reducing the risk of animal and human disease carried by ticks and parasites
- Developing an animal feed that can reduce methane emissions from ruminant animals such as cattle and sheep - these emissions are a significant source of greenhouse gases
Scientists from the six main research institutes in Scotland - the Macaulay Institute, Moredun Research Institute, Rowett Research Institute, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scottish Agricultural College and the Scottish Crop Research Institute - explained the measures currently underway in three key areas. These are; monitoring climate change, mitigating its impacts and helping to inform adaptation and responses to its impacts.
Minister for Climate Change Stewart Stevenson said:
"Climate change is having a major impact on the world we live in and the work of the science institutes is invaluable in helping to inform our future policy on climate change.
"This briefing is timely as we are currently consulting on proposals for a Scottish Climate Change Bill to ensure we have the right framework to build a sustainable future for all Scots to enjoy. We are proposing to reduce emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 - this is the scale of the challenge that confronts us and strong scientific support is key to helping us deliver these reductions."
Minister for Environment Michael Russell said:
"The quality of Scottish science is held in the highest regard around the world. Our strengths in agricultural and biological research may not be as well known to the public as our achievements in other fields, but they are of equal value.
"It is encouraging to know that Scottish scientists are working together in playing a leading role in responding to the threat of climate change - one of the most serious issues facing the future of our planet. I would like to praise them for the high-calibre research they provide for Scotland and the rest of the world."
The work is not limited to Scotland. For example, scientists from the Scottish Crop Research Institute are currently in Antarctica studying soil and organisms in ice-free parts of the continent. Antarctica is responding faster to climate change than anywhere else and acts as an important indictor for what may happen in the rest of the world.
The meeting took place at St Andrews House in Edinburgh.
Much of the Scottish-based work is supported by Scottish Government funding of around £60 million per year. Responding to climate change has been selected as one of the main research areas of the Government's five year scientific programme 2005 to 2010. The other areas are; protecting bio-diversity and the environmental, social and economic sustainability of rural Scotland.
Attendees from the science research institutes were as follows:
The Macaulay Institute
Professor Richard Aspinall
Dr Iain Brown
The Moredun Research Institute
Dr Philip Skuce
Professor David Knox
Scottish Agricultural College
Dr Dominic Moran
Professor George Marshall
Scottish Crop Research Institute
Professor Peter Gregory
Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland*
Professor David Elston
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
Professor Mary Gibby
Dr Mark Watson
Rowett Research Institute
Professor Harry McArdle
*Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland provides statistical and modelling support for the research institutes. While it is a separate organisation it is formally a part of the Scottish Crop Research Institute.