Scottish Government

The purpose of Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA) is to ensure that the likely significant environmental effects of plans, programmes and strategies are assessed and taken into consideration during policy development.

The Scottish Government is the Responsible Authority for assessing whether the proposals for Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Framework require SEA and whether there are likely to be significant environmental effects. The development of the Framework was informed by a two-stage consultation process. The Scottish Government assessed whether the proposals at each stage of consultation required SEA.

The Climate Change Adaptation Framework has passed through the following SEA stages:

• Pre-Screening
• Screening
• Scoping Report
• Environmental Report
• Post Adoption Statement

A plan is exempt from the requirement to carry out Strategic Environmental Assessment if the Responsible Authority believes that the plan will have no, or minimal, environmental effect.

• First Consultation - The Scottish Government considered that the proposals in the first consultation might have more than a minimal environmental effect and concluded that it would be appropriate to produce a Screening Report (see below).
• Second Consultation - The Scottish Government consulted on proposed high level strategic principles and actions which may have an influence on all areas of government work and beyond, which in turn, are likely to have a significant environmental impacts. The Scottish Government concluded that the Framework is a qualifying plan under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and, as such, Strategic Environmental Assessment for the proposals in the second consultation would be appropriate.

The Framework proposals undergo Screening to assess whether or not implementing the proposals is likely to have significant environmental effects.

• First Consultation - After seeking the views of the Consultation Authorities (Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Historic Scotland), it was concluded that the Framework proposals included in the first consultation paper, Adapting our Ways: Managing Scotland's Climate Risk, were unlikely to have significant environmental effects and as such SEA was not required. The Screening Report was published on September 4, 2008.
• Second Consultation - The Pre-Screening stage concluded that the proposals are likely to result in significant, albeit indirect, environmental effects. The Scoping Report was, therefore, submitted to the Consultation Authorities without the publication of a Screening Report.

• First Consultation - Not required
• Second Consultation - The Scoping Report setting out the scope and level of detail to be included in the Environmental Report was submitted to and considered by the Consultation Authorities.

• First Consultation - Not required
• Second Consultation - The SEA Environmental Report on the proposals for Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Framework was published on April 27, 2009. Formal responses to this report were received in July 2009. All responses received were fully considered in the development of the Adaptation Framework and further information is contained in the Post Adoption Statement.

• First Consultation - Not required
• Second Consultation - The SEA Post Adoption Statement was published on December 17, 2009. It sets out how the findings of the SEA have been considered and how views expressed during the consultation period have informed the Adaptation Framework.

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