Transcript Perth and Kinross pilot project

Community Engagement and
Climate Change Adaptation
Anna Beswick
Graham Esson
SCCIP Public Sector Officer
Perth & Kinross Council
SCCIP Community engagement
Low Carbon Scotland: Public Engagement Strategy
Action 23:
‘SCCIP will develop a community engagement programme to
increase awareness of the impacts of climate change and
improve the capacity of communities to adapt to the impacts.
The programme will be developed in 2011 and implemented in
2011 and 2012’.
Piloting community engagement
1. Community engagement and climate change adaptation
Piloting a three phased approach to community engagement in
partnership with Perth and Kinross Council.
2. Identifying vulnerability to climate change
Pilot community workshop to be developed in partnership with
The Highland Council.
3. Climate Change Impacts and vulnerable communities
Working with SCVO to develop a pilot workshop.
Perth and Kinross pilot project
Three workshops carried out over three weeks.
Workshop 1:Exploring Community characteristics and quality of life
• What do participants value about their community?
• What challenges do different sectors of the community face?
Perth and Kinross pilot project
Workshop 2: Climate change and local impacts
• Recent past changes in climate
• Future projected changes in climate
• Discussing community impacts
Workshop 3: Adaptation planning and action
• Review of previous two sessions
• Discussion on community responses to climate change impacts
Project outputs
Community engagement resources
• Presentations
• Workshop activities
• Advice on logistics
Carse of Gowrie workshop report
• Outputs will feed in to Tayplan consultation
• Available as a case study on SCCIP website
More information
Anna Beswick
SCCIP Public Sector Officer
[email protected]
www.sccip.org.uk
Perth and Kinross pilot project
The environmental issues
Climate change in TAYplan area
Links with the Local Development Plan
Questions
The challenge
Climate change is a challenge that affects us all.
We all need to start adapting our systems, assets, services and
management approaches to this challenge.
The work we are doing in partnership with SCCIP is a
continuation of work we started with our LCLIP.
What’s its use
We intend the study to provide a catalyst and focus for
adaptation action throughout the Council area.
It assesses future climate change in the Carse of Gowrie to 2050,
investigates likely impacts on a range of sectors, and seeks to
develop thematic and overarching adaptation measures to help
increase our resilience.
TAYplan in context
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The environment
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45,983 ha of Ancient and semi-natural woodland
26 SAC sites (44,316 ha), 14 SPA sites (32,705 ha), 183 SSSIs (77,982 ha), 9 Ramsar Sites (4,622 ha), 8
National Nature Reserves (8,281 ha)
Population
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475,189 people (GROS mid-year estimate 2008)
Population density 42.8 people/sq km (Scottish average 68 people /sq km)
Human health
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18.7 % of population over 65 (higher than Scottish average)
Life expectancy is significantly better than Scottish average (except for Dundee where it is lower)
Geology, Soils and
Minerals
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High proportion of undisturbed soils (only 22.7% cultivated)
93,872 ha of prime agricultural land
465 ha vacant /derelict land
Water
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55 % of rivers and streams classified as at risk
120 sq km standing waters
5,933 ha affected by fluvial flooding
2,124 ha affected by coastal flooding
Air
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Relatively low atmospheric pollution
3 air quality management areas due to road traffic (Dundee, Perth and Bonnygate-Cupar)
Climatic factors
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Annual precipitation over 1500 mm on summits and under 700 mm along coasts of Angus and Fife
Average annual snow cover 100 days on summits and 20 days on low ground
Mean July maximum 16 - 19o C
Material assets
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280,000 tonnes of municipal waste
33 % recycled
Biodiversity
Development pressure
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Environmental sensitivities
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Sensitivities & development pressure
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Problems and issues
Climatic
factors
Problem: The vulnerability of parts of the area to increased flooding, and sea level rises as a
result of climate change. Particularly sensitive areas include flood plains, river corridors and
coastal areas.
Implication: It should also seek to show leadership to the wider community and direct
development away from areas of flood risk
Material
Assets
Problem: The proper management of infrastructure and conservation of resources is central
to the TAYplan's aim of achieving sustainable development and protecting the environment.
Implication: Reducing the consumption of resources through the procurement of goods and
services and work towards increasing the recycling of all waste in the area.
Cultural
Heritage
Problem: Impact of increased pressure for inappropriate development on sites of historical
importance. Promoting rural environments for tourism whilst maintaining their character.
Implication: The Strategic Development Plan should support the protection and
enhancement of the areas cultural heritage.
Landscape
Problem: Increased pressure from development resulting in an incremental adverse impact
on the landscape, both designated sites and the wider landscapes.
Implication: The Strategic Development Plan should support the principles of the European
Landscape Convention and seek to protect and enhance all landscapes.
Objectives
To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
• Will it minimise emissions of greenhouse gases?
• Will it help The TAYplan area meet its emission targets?
To ensure climate change adaptation
• Will it avoid exacerbating the impacts of climate change?
• Will it manage existing flood risks appropriately and avoid new
flood risks?
• Will it ensure adaptation to the effects of climate change?
Strategy option A
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The benefits
To realise the opportunities, and also to minimise the impacts of
climate change on the area we need to:
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Work in partnership
Take a long term perspective
Take a strategic perspective
Continue to improve the evidence base
Communicate and involve
What do we know
Climate change is likely to raise average temperatures, change
patterns of rainfall and lead to rising sea levels. These changes
will have a direct impact on Perth and Kinross, Dundee, Angus
and North and East Fife.
Equally important, however, will be the way in which we respond
to climate change – by adapting to the changing climate and
through measures to reduce carbon emissions.
Sea level rise and flooding
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Cause and effects - Carse of Gowrie
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Sea level rise and flooding
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Sea level rise and flooding
Problems and issues
It is important that the LDP takes into account those areas which are already
at risk from the effects of climate change in order to avoid an exacerbation of
the problems in these areas.
Potential future migration of the population and planning for that higher
growth rate
Consideration given to the need for a managed retreat of development in the
Carse of Gowrie area where appropriate.
Potential of renewable energy technologies
Creating sustainable communities
Maximising resource use (including the release of greenfield sites) and
energy efficiency
Food security
Coordination and communication
Lack of coordination, responsibility and communication Due to
the number of stakeholders, the cross sectoral nature of many of
the issues, and potentially competing objectives between
stakeholders, there is a strong role for coordination at the
regional and sub-regional or sectoral/thematic level.
Lack of communications, integration and engagement. Poor
levels of communication about climate change challenges to
many sectors within Perth & Kinross. Low levels of information
sharing between different sectors are of concern.
Making the case to drive adaptive action.
Communicate and involve
Raise awareness of likely direct impacts of climate change across
Perth and Kinross, and understanding of the need for adaptation
Provide opportunities for people to identify those parts of their
area and qualities that are of greatest importance and which
should be protected as appropriate
Create opportunities for stakeholders and local communities to
input to adaptation and development plan strategies
Taking a strategic perspective
One of the risks is that we take an incremental and
uncoordinated approach to adaptation and mitigation
This could result in a gradual, but significant negative impact on
the area
A more strategic approach will help identify areas where there
should be an emphasis on solutions
Identify areas less sensitive to change
Identify opportunities to use adaptation and mitigation to
enhance, restore or create new landscapes, biodiversity or
strengthen the economy
In conclusion
Wider education and engagement of stakeholders and the public
to ensure adaptive capacity is built in
Stronger engagement facilitated through sectoral groups,
established along the lines of this study or within existing
structures
These will help ensure climate change impacts and adaptation
measures are made relevant to all sectors
Can ensure appropriate communication and information sharing
Contributing to progressing regional adaptation plan
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