Adaptation Archives | ClimateXChange

Climate change means Scotland’s weather will change and become more unpredictable. Scotland’s public services – like healthcare, schools, transport networks and clean water supplies – need to prepare for climate change, so that people can reliably access the public services they need.

We need to take climate adaptation measures to build Scotland’s resilience to weather extremes, including floods, heatwaves, wildfires and droughts and Scotland’s public bodies play a key role in delivering this..

How has ClimateXChange been supporting public bodies’ climate adaptation?

Working with the Scottish Government, and in support of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2025-29, ClimateXChange has recently published three research reports covering:

Status of public sector adaptation planning

Geospatial risk data, to build climate resilience though the planning system

How to bring future climate scenarios into today’s decision making

To build on this work, ClimateXChange is also advertising for a post-doctoral research opportunity on climate adaptation. Find out more below and apply via the related links.

Status of climate adaptation planning

Public bodies in Scotland are at the forefront of responding to climate impacts. This study found that public sector adaptation plans vary in scope, content and levels of maturity. As many as 18 of 22 NHS Boards in Scotland and 8 of 32 of local authorities have a dedicated adaptation plan. Other local authorities are actively participating in regional partnerships; but to date only the Climate Ready Clyde region has a published plan (this covers a further six local authority areas). Many other bodies have undertaken at least some planning relevant to climate adaptation and have used support available from Adaptation Scotland or NHS Assure.

This research will help inform Scottish Government’s statutory guidance for public bodies on climate change, which is currently out for consultation. The database from this study, summarising the adaptation planning status in Local Authorities and NHS Boards in Scotland, is publicly available.

Geospatial risk data – building resilience through the planning system

Scotland’s National Planning Framework puts climate adaptation and resilience front and centre. Many areas of Scotland are working on local development plans, including evidence reports, that respond to the different impacts of climate change in their place.

To help improve use of geospatial data on climate risks, this research engaged with planning authorities and found:

Five climate-related datasets that were familiar to planning authorities and were likely to be used.

Eight accessible climate-related datasets which would be valuable if used more extensively by planning authorities.

The research produced a briefing note for planning authorities highlighting the additional datasets and tools useful for evidence reports. These include the Met Office’s Local Authority Climate Service, Dynamic Coast maps of coastal change and NatureScot’s Habitat Map of Scotland.

What are we adapting to? Bringing future climate scenarios into today’s decision making

A fundamental challenge when making long-term plans or investment decisions is how will this stand the test of time. A future in which global warming is capped at around 2C will be vastly different to 3C or 4C of warming. The unpredictability of the rate at which global emissions will reduce means that our climate future is uncertain.

This report provides recommendations for the development of a climate scenario decision-making tool for the public sector – particularly for the tool’s content and scope. The report recommends considering at least two climate scenarios (both 2C and 4C warming), covering both chronic and acute climate risks. It also recommends that the tool should contain a step-by-step process for public bodies to follow to complete a climate scenario analysis in their context.

Post-doctoral applied research opportunity

The next step is to operationalise these recommendations into a toolkit for the public sector. ClimateXChange is advertising a post-doctoral applied research opportunity to be embedded within the Scottish Government’s Adaptation Team.

The successful fellow will work closely with public sector representatives to review existing tools in other jurisdictions; develop a toolkit and associated guidance for an online platform; and test this with users.

We expect the fellow to be expert in their field, with an understanding of public policy and the use of evidence to support decision making.

The application period closes at noon on 6 June 2025.

Reports

Public bodies adaptation planning

Summary of documents included in the desk review for ‘Public bodies adaptation planning’

Improving access to geospatial climate risk data

Geospatial climate data for evidence reports: briefing note for planning authorities

Using future climate scenarios to support today’s decision making