Transcript SEPA’s role and Climate Change

Climate Change
and SEPA’s role
Rebecca Walker
SEPA’s Position
SEPA recognises that
climate change is the
greatest threat to the future
of the planet’s ecosystems,
with significant socioeconomic consequences
for humankind.
Drivers for change
Internal drivers
 Need for a sustained and corporate response
 Key role in helping Scotland limit and adapt
 SEPA itself to adapt and reduce emissions
 Make SEPA fit for purpose
External drivers
 Scotland’s climate is already changing and
will continue to change
 Climate Change Scotland Act 2009
 UK Climate Change Act 2008
 EU Legislation
Climate Change programme
To further integrate climate change into SEPA’s
day to day activities by delivering the strategic
objectives set out in SEPA’s climate change
plan
Work areas
Regulation
Monitoring and
analysis
Greening SEPA
Informing and
Influencing
Advice to
Operators
Communicating
Information
Monitoring and Analysis
Review scientific monitoring and assessment activities to ensure
that they remain fit for purpose in the light of current and predicted
climate change, and help inform Scotland’s associated risks and
impacts
Integrate climate change in Science review programme
Historic datasets to produce factsheets
Understanding future climate projections
Regulation
Review all of our regulatory activities to ensure that the impacts of,
and on, climate change are fully considered when determining
environmental permits and taking regulatory decisions
Understand the impact of regulatory regimes
Integration in Q and S investment programme
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
Carbon Capture and Storage regulatory framework
Renewables Task Group
Advice to operators
We will give prominence to climate change issues in our advice
to businesses and others
Staff training
Clear, consistent information disseminated through existing
channels e.g. NetRegs
Signposting and partnership working
Greening SEPA
We will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from SEPA’s
activities
Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25% from 2006-2007
baseline by March 2012
Reduce carbon dioxide from all business transport modes by
10% from 2006-2007 baseline by March 2011
Maintained flight reduction target of 50%
Informing and Influencing
We will seek to influence decisions of others so that the
environmental, economic and social consequences risks and
opportunities of climate change are fully considered.
Understanding of carbon accounting methodologies and when to
use these tools
Produced guidance for SEA practitioners on climate change
Published a statement on SEPA’s role in climate change, energy
and planning
River Basin Management Plans and climate change
Support implementation of the Climate Change Scotland Act
Developing an energy position paper for SEPA
Consultations and policy work
Communicating information
We will develop SEPA’s role as a prominent public voice on climate
change issues.
Joint agency statement
Co-ordinated climate change communication (internally and
externally) through the climate change communications plan
Staff awareness presentations (40 for 2009/2010) across SEPA
Working towards embedding climate
change across the organisation
Reviews, guidance,
awareness, training
Processes, procedures,
awareness, training
Culture Change and Core
Business
Activities planned for 2010/2011
 Procurement
 Review of SEPA’s greening
Strategic Implementation
Plan
 Transport actions
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 Public Bodies Duties
Implementation in SEPA
 Carbon accounting Regulations
 UK Climate Change Risk
Assessment
 Land Use Strategy
SEA and Planning
Develop an approach to embed into policy decision making
Climate change and regulation
Energy work
Climate change communication plan
Carbon impact assessment work
Public Bodies Duties
A public body must, in exercising its functions,
act:
 in the way best calculated to contribute to
delivery of the Act's emissions reduction
targets;
 in the way best calculated to deliver any
statutory adaptation programme; and
 in a way that it considers most sustainable.
The duty is due to enter into force on January 1,
2011.
SEPA’s approach…..
 Continue to implement the climate change
plan
 Work towards the vision of integrating climate
change
 Appraisals/procedures in place to comply with
the duties
 Demonstrate compliance through reporting
 Work in partnership with others
Considering climate change (both
mitigation and adaptation) in all
SEPA’s functions
Thank You