The Scottish Government

Action 52

"The Executive will conduct a review of existing climate change research in Scotland to see if more is required. The farming sector will be included in the Executive's forthcoming Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. We will involve the industry in consideration of the medium term options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in an analysis of flood risk maps to ascertain in more detail how farming is likely to be affected in future."

Progress

The Scottish Executive published a review of Organic Soils under Different Land Uses in December 2001.

In 2003, the Executive commissioned the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh to review how greenhouse gas emissions associated with fertiliser use influence climate change. The full findings of the Fertiliser study were published in early 2005.

A 3-year organic soils study, Organic Soils under Different Land Uses was commissioned in 2004. This will develop a model for emissions of carbon dioxide and make recommendations on land use change practices to reduce emissions.

An analysis of flood risk data was completed in March 2002. The research, entitled Climate Change: Flooding Occurrences Review, includes information on the proportion of agricultural land likely to be presently at risk from flooding.

Review of SCCP

Following a consultation exercise in 2004 and detailed analytical work, a revised Scottish Climate Change Programme will be published in the first half of 2005. This will provide a strategic framework through which the Executive will continue to make a contribution to the UK Kyoto target of a 12.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2008-2012 and the domestic goal of reducing 1990 levels of carbon dioxide by 20% by 2010.

Links

• Fertiliser study:-

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Climate-Change/16327/Res2005#top

• Organic soils study:-

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/cru/kd01/lightgreen/rccs-00.asp

• Scottish Climate Change Programme:-

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/environment/ccm-00.asp

Action complete although work is ongoing in relation to the overarching objective.

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