Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 14 January 2014
14 Jan 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Draft Climate Change Adaptation Programme
Like many other members, I was proud to put through the Parliament the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill back in 2009. Although at the time there were differences on how quickly Scotland should have to act, we came up with a world-leading piece of legislation. Under the act, there is a responsibility to ensure that we are as prepared as we can be for climate change effects. Basically, that involves a risk assessment.
Not many people do not think that there is a change in the world’s climate. Recently in Scotland, we have again seen amazing wind speeds, coupled in some parts with flooding. All of that is seemingly related to the extremes in temperature across the pond in America, where Arctic air has plunged parts of the USA into a deep freeze, with even the iconic Niagara Falls freezing.
The consultation on Scotland’s adaptation programme highlighted that the Parliament and the Government are aware of the work that is being done to make us better prepared in future. That is also the case for many public bodies, as is borne out in the list of respondents, more than half of which were public bodies that have defined duties under the act. Of the 67 responses, only three were from individuals rather than organisations and only four were from private sector organisations. It is disappointing that there were only 67 responses from the 600 or so individuals and organisations that were invited to respond.
To me, that highlights the duty that falls on us all to make climate change more relevant. We cannot deliver climate change targets and adapt to the changes that are happening without buy-in from everyone. My view is echoed by the respondents to the consultation who thought that the Government needs to make arrangements for better public engagement. In answer to question 5b, which asked whether arrangements for public engagement are sufficient, 58 per cent of respondents ticked no.
Having been a land user, I focused on who engaged with the consultation. Bearing in mind that land users are vital to help to deliver climate change mitigation and adaptation, I was alarmed that the National Farmers Union of Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, Confor and the like did not submit a response, although some gave evidence to our committee. That is not a criticism of those organisations, which all have limited resources; it is a criticism of us all and of our ability to make climate change relevant to those who can help the most. I am therefore interested in hearing the minister’s view on how the issue can best be addressed.
Respondents also emphasised the importance of capacity building, which further highlights the need for much better engagement with the public and private sectors.
I further note that respondents noted that there was a heavy emphasis on flooding, which, of course, is a highly visual and damaging effect of climate change. However, an adapted Scotland will need community partnerships—such as the Eyemouth example that the minister mentioned—for emergency responses, care for the vulnerable and the use of existing equipment, perhaps private equipment, when there are snowstorms or there is damage from winds. Organisation will have to be in place prior to any event.
A good example of that is the memorandum of understanding between Scottish Borders Council and RAYNET—volunteers from the amateur radio enthusiast world. They and their like helped in the Lockerbie disaster, the Indian Ocean tsunami and hurricane Katrina.
I welcome the progress of the draft Scottish climate change adaptation programme and the consultation. I thank all who found the time to respond. There is much in the consultation responses that I and the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee will examine further.
I look forward to the minister addressing my points.
16:21
Not many people do not think that there is a change in the world’s climate. Recently in Scotland, we have again seen amazing wind speeds, coupled in some parts with flooding. All of that is seemingly related to the extremes in temperature across the pond in America, where Arctic air has plunged parts of the USA into a deep freeze, with even the iconic Niagara Falls freezing.
The consultation on Scotland’s adaptation programme highlighted that the Parliament and the Government are aware of the work that is being done to make us better prepared in future. That is also the case for many public bodies, as is borne out in the list of respondents, more than half of which were public bodies that have defined duties under the act. Of the 67 responses, only three were from individuals rather than organisations and only four were from private sector organisations. It is disappointing that there were only 67 responses from the 600 or so individuals and organisations that were invited to respond.
To me, that highlights the duty that falls on us all to make climate change more relevant. We cannot deliver climate change targets and adapt to the changes that are happening without buy-in from everyone. My view is echoed by the respondents to the consultation who thought that the Government needs to make arrangements for better public engagement. In answer to question 5b, which asked whether arrangements for public engagement are sufficient, 58 per cent of respondents ticked no.
Having been a land user, I focused on who engaged with the consultation. Bearing in mind that land users are vital to help to deliver climate change mitigation and adaptation, I was alarmed that the National Farmers Union of Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, Confor and the like did not submit a response, although some gave evidence to our committee. That is not a criticism of those organisations, which all have limited resources; it is a criticism of us all and of our ability to make climate change relevant to those who can help the most. I am therefore interested in hearing the minister’s view on how the issue can best be addressed.
Respondents also emphasised the importance of capacity building, which further highlights the need for much better engagement with the public and private sectors.
I further note that respondents noted that there was a heavy emphasis on flooding, which, of course, is a highly visual and damaging effect of climate change. However, an adapted Scotland will need community partnerships—such as the Eyemouth example that the minister mentioned—for emergency responses, care for the vulnerable and the use of existing equipment, perhaps private equipment, when there are snowstorms or there is damage from winds. Organisation will have to be in place prior to any event.
A good example of that is the memorandum of understanding between Scottish Borders Council and RAYNET—volunteers from the amateur radio enthusiast world. They and their like helped in the Lockerbie disaster, the Indian Ocean tsunami and hurricane Katrina.
I welcome the progress of the draft Scottish climate change adaptation programme and the consultation. I thank all who found the time to respond. There is much in the consultation responses that I and the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee will examine further.
I look forward to the minister addressing my points.
16:21
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08732, in the name of Rob Gibson, on the Scottish Government’s consultation on its draft climate change a...
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
Presiding Officer, I crave your indulgence as I try to get all the detail in.Change and adaptation are rarely easy. How many psychiatrists does it take to ch...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I remind members who wish to speak in the debate that they should press their request-to-speak buttons. I call Paul Wheelhouse. Minister, you have seven minu...
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer.I thank the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee for its efforts in scrutinising the draft Scottish climate c...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Minister, will you draw to a close, please?
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I will, Presiding Officer.I hope to pick up on some additional points in my closing speech. Suffice it to say that Scotland is well placed to respond to clim...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
This committee debate is extremely important and timely as it comes in the immediate aftermath of the recent severe weather and flooding. They focused all ou...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
Can you draw to a close, please?
Claudia Beamish
Lab
That chimes with some of the committee’s recommendations. I ask the minister to take forward those fundamental governance issues in the final adaptation prog...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I am not a great fan of the phrase “adopting a holistic approach”, but one thing is for sure: if climate change adaptation is to be successfully mainstreamed...
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
I say at the outset that I am pleased to contribute to the debate. It is an important issue that requires the attention of all parliamentarians and all commi...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the committee and witnesses for their work in getting us to this debate today.I want to focus on the processes and principles of adaptation in relati...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I hardly need to point out in the early part of 2014 that climate change is with us. We have clearly reached the point where it does not matter why it is hap...
Nigel Don
SNP
Yes; that is long overdue. We cannot do things with land without maps, so I am delighted to hear that we have got that far. I must take issue with what has b...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
Like many other members, I was proud to put through the Parliament the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill back in 2009. Although at the time there were differenc...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the debate, and I thank the committee for bringing it to the chamber and for the work that it has done in assessing the draft climate change adapta...
Cara Hilton (Dunfermline) (Lab)
Lab
We have robust evidence for global warming, as colleagues have already said, but there are still many unknowns and variables involved in predicting exactly h...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
It is probably fair to say that climate change adaptation often plays second fiddle to the mitigation agenda and the urgent need to reduce our emissions. Tha...
Alex Fergusson
Con
The debate has seen a fair amount of consensus throughout the chamber, which is very much as it should be in a debate of this nature. Climate change presents...
Claudia Beamish
Lab
I stress that a thread running through the adaptation programme is the value of interconnections and partnerships, showing the need for clear paths of commun...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I thank members. I agree with Alex Fergusson that the debate has been consensual. It has been rightly so, because we are talking about a matter that cuts acr...
Alex Fergusson
Con
Do targets have a role to play in monitoring and evaluation?
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I think that they do. Nigel Don made valid points about that. It is important to have a focus that drives effort, and the maxim about what is measured being ...
Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP)
SNP
My preparing for the debate prompted me to re-read in detail the evidence on the draft programme that was given during two stakeholder meetings that were hel...
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I thank the deputy convener for taking an intervention and I apologise for interrupting. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 specified a five-year time ho...
Graeme Dey
SNP
I thank the minister for that input. We are aware that they are five-year programmes, but there is a general point that we must look as far beyond that timef...
Sarah Boyack
Lab
Graeme Dey has made an extremely useful point about the capacity of institutions to provide practical examples of what we can all do. Institutions such as co...
Graeme Dey
SNP
Sarah Boyack has made a very good point. I do not think that there is anything that I can add to that.There is so much more that can be done, as Sarah Boyack...