Improving access to geospatial climate risk data

The planning system in Scotland provides opportunities to adapt to current and future risks from climate change, and the potential to promote nature recovery and restoration.

Development planning, which outlines how places should change and where development should and should not happen, requires planning authorities to publish local development plans. These should account for and address current and future climate risks, and enable places to adapt accordingly. Accurate data, identifing geographic features such as rivers and utilities, is vital for the creation of effective plans with a sound evidence base to evaluate climate risks.

This project explored the geospatial resources that are available to planning authorities, with a view to improving access to geospatial data on climate risk. The research involved an evidence review and stakeholder engagement with planning authorities at various stages of evidence report development.

The report identifies existing data, data gaps, barriers and resources needed for evidence-based planning and delivery.

Findings

• A wide range of data is required to assess climate vulnerabilities and impacts, some of which require substantial climate and data expertise to interpret.
• Most required data is free for planning authorities.
• Planning authorities tend to rely on datasets familiar to them – such as Flood Maps (SEPA), Dynamic Coast, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD), and OS MasterMap to assess climate risks like flooding, coastal erosion, and social vulnerability.
• There are additional datasets and tools which would benefit from further adoption by planning authorities, especially the Local Authority Climate Service.
• Significant data gaps exist for urban heat islands, storm damage, health, water, infrastructure and landslides.
• Planning authority use of spatial data is limited, despite support for it in the Local Development Planning Guidance.
• Planning authorities find it challenging and time-consuming to gather data from multiple providers.
• There is value in carrying out Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (CRVAs) to better direct the use of data but there is no consistent approach or simple tool available for planning authorities to use.
• Collaboration across planning authorities allows knowledge and resources sharing, which leads to more consistent and effective outcomes.

Briefing note

The briefing note provides guidance on more usable and interpretable data that can be used for assessing climate risks and vulnerabilities.

If you require the report in an alternative format, such as a Word document, please contact info@climatexchange.org.uk or 0131 651 4783.