Climate change and the natural heritage

Our approach and action plan   sets how we will respond by working closely with others to:

• help to understand and publicise the effects and consequences of climate change for the natural heritage
• advise on infrastructure and land management practices which help to mitigate climate change
• guide adaptation so that nature can, as far as possible, adapt to a changing climate and so that people can make best use of natural processes in preparing for climate change
• promote action by organisations and individuals
• be setting an example in the management of our own operations and communicating our climate change message clearly and effectively.

Our response so far

• Supporting targets to reduce carbon emissions by 2050 through our statement on Energy and the Natural Heritage   and published conference proceedings on Energy and the Natural Heritage (edited by CA Galbraith and JM Baxter - ISBN 011 497341 4).
• Strongly supporting the development of renewable energy through our role in the delivery of the Scottish Government's Renewables Action Plan  .
• Assessing and managing  vulnerable coasts using remote sensing techniques and work on the Shorelook Project to work out past coastal change and develop scenarios of future change on key sites where management is likely to be needed
• Using the Forest Research's BEETLE model   to get a better understanding of habitat connectivity requirements for certain species.
• Published with others: A Handbook of Climate Trends Across Scotland 
• Published a report on indicators of climate change 
• Leading by example though our Corporate Greening and participating in the first cohort of organisations in the Carbon Trusts Carbon Lite programme

We will work to implement the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 and will help to deliver and implement the associated Scottish Climate Change Delivery Plan and Adaptation Framework.

For further information contact marion.mulholland@snh.gov.uk  0131 316 2612