Climate change - impacts on economy

Climate change will have have far-reaching effects on Scotland's people and places, impacting on its economy, society and both natural and built environments. There are significant social, economic and environmental benefits in taking early action to lessen its effects and prepare for early changes.

The natural heritage is vital to many sectors of Scotland's economy. We help people understand how the natural environment currently supports our economic well-being, and work with others to develop sustainable ways of using it in the future.

Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Framework   sets out a co-ordinated approach to help ensure that Scotland is as resilient as possible to the future impacts of climate change. With the right planning in place the costs of climate change can be kept as low as possible, and new opportunities can be taken.

Climate change in Scotland is expected to have direct impacts at many levels across the range of different types, uses and management of land  throughout the country.

Over most of Scotland longer growing seasons  are being recorded which may lead to some new farming enterprises becoming viable, while some existing enterprises may decline. There may be increased demand for food and non-food crops, including bioenergy crops, resulting in increased pressure on land.

Diseases such as potato blight may be more difficult to control, and some non-native pests and animal diseases may become more established. Recent work  does indicate that our major tree species will still be broadly suited to Scotland.