The Peatland Research and Monitoring Group are exploring how identify priorities for monitoring peatland condition in Scotland. ClimateXChange organised a workshop of experts to explore the concept of peatland condition (the ‘what’) and identify what datasets (the ‘how’) are needed.
 
We recognised that developing a monitoring strategy is a huge task and could not be achieved with one meeting. The aim of this event was to bring the professional perspectives of delegates together to agree a basis for action, highlighting the key priorities and identifying realistic and definable tasks that could be taken forward.

This project looked at improving the measurement of the GHG emissions intensity of the main agricultural commodities at a national level. 

The Scottish Agricultural Emissions Model (SAEM) calculates the amount of commodity produced per herd/flock or per hectare of crop and the GHG emissions arising from this production. The emissions intensity of the commodity can then be calculated.

SAEM complements the UK GHG Inventory by providing estimates of the emissions intensities of the main agricultural commodities in Scotland. SAEM uses the IPCC’s widely accepted and transparent Tier 2 approach to calculating GHG emissions, which has a clear scientific rationale as is consistent with the UK GHG Inventory approach.

Using SAEM does require a moderate knowledge of MS Excel and some familiarity with agricultural processes and the emissions arising from them. SAEM is therefore not intended for use by the layperson or occasional user but provides experienced users with significant scope for investigating the drivers of agricultural emissions.

Extreme weather events can result in significant costs across a range of local authority services. Research indicates that extreme events will increase both in frequency and intensity with a changing climate, so it is critical to explore the cost and benefit of different adaptation responses. This will help decision makers draw the impact of climate change into planning and management processes.

This project is focused on understanding the costs of risk management, and how capturing current costs is a key element in making decisions for the future, e.g. risk management based on climate projections (2040s or 2050s).

First we explored the evidence for weather-related expenditure by Aberdeenshire Council over the past five years. We found that there were financial impacts but that the available data can provide a very limited indication of the true costs. 
Read the report Weather related costs to Aberdeenshire Council

A second phase concentrated on what lessons we could learn from the flood ‘event’ during the winter of 2015/2016. The project explored the costs of dealing with the impact of the flooding, and suggested possible tools to support better informed decision-making. 
Read the report Counting the costs of extreme events – an Aberdeenshire case study

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 places a duty on all public bodies in Scotland to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation when carrying out their functions. This research will inform best practice across local authorities and the broader public sector in Scotland.