Climate change
SEPA's position on climate change
SEPA recognises that climate change is the greatest threat to
the future of the planet’s ecosystems, with significant
socio-economic consequences for humankind.
SEPA's role in addressing climate change
SEPA has a key role in helping Scotland limit and adapt to
Climate Change. SEPA itself must also adapt to climate change and
reduce its own emissions.
SEPA’s five year climate change sets out SEPA’s role in climate
change and actions for the next five years to further integrate
climate change across the organisation. The actions fall into six
key areas:
- Monitoring and analysis
- Regulation
- Advice to operators
- Greening SEPA
- Informing and influencing
- Communciating information
SEPA’s Climate Change Plan was subject to a Strategic
Environmental Assessment (SEA) as part of its preparation.
This was required under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act
2005. The SEA helped SEPA to understand the environmental
effects of the plan and allowed for improvements to be made
throughout the preparation process. The Environmental Report
explains in detail the findings of the SEA. As the plan has now
been formally adopted, SEPA is required to explain how it has taken
account of the SEA process in a “SEA Statement”.
Four agency statement – Action on climate change
SEPA, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forestry Commission
Scotland and Historic Scotland are all government funded
organisations with responsibilities for different aspects of
Scotland’s environment and heritage. We have come together to make
a joint statement on climate change.
How do we know it's happening?
Climate change is happening. There is mounting evidence of
fundamental alterations to the key elements of our climate system
as a result of human activities. Left unchecked these changes will
accelerate, with significant consequences for our environment,
economy and society.
"The Scientific evidence is now
overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks and
it demands an urgent global response." The Economics of
Climate Change, October 2006: Stern
Review 
The pace and signs of climate change varies across the globe,
but eventually everyone will either be affected directly or
indirectly by climate change. Flooding and drought are obvious
direct threats, and these can have indirect impacts such
as higher food prices as a result of crop damage.
One of the most iconic images of climate change is the collapse
of ice-shelves in the polar regions, but there is evidence of
change across the globe, including dramatic shifts in the range and
abundance of plants and animals, and noticeable changes in the
length and pattern of the seasons.
Climate change in Scotland
In Scotland, climate change is evident from observed changes in
temperature, rainfall and snow cover. These changes are causing
significant shifts in the growing, breeding and migration seasons,
as well as species abundance and diversity. Higher river flows are
leading to flood risks and sea level rise is causing coastal
erosion.
Left unchecked, climate change will accelerate. The use of
fossil fuels, a growing demand for energy and increased
deforestation will escalate emissions of carbon dioxide to
potentially irreversible levels. Uncertainties in the scientific
understanding of global warming do not warrant a ‘wait and see’
attitude and there is much that we can do now that makes both
environmental and economic sense.
Scotland and other developed countries must seize the
opportunity to take the lead in:
- developing new, clean, energy-efficient technologies
- helping developing countries take a greener path to economic
prosperity
- adopting adaptation measures to improve our resilience to the
unavoidable impacts of climate change
All of this can be done in a cost-effective manner that will
create business and employment opportunities and improve our health
and wellbeing.
Still need convincing?
For further information, please visit Climate
monitoring and data sets
And for an explanation on natural variability, weather and
climate, please visit this
press release from MET Office
Confused by conflicting accounts of climate change in the media
and press?
To read more about the debate please visit Climate
Debate Daily