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Philip Wright Head of Climate Change and Air, ERAD Changing our Ways Executive action on climate change.

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Presentation on theme: "Philip Wright Head of Climate Change and Air, ERAD Changing our Ways Executive action on climate change."— Presentation transcript:

1 Philip Wright Head of Climate Change and Air, ERAD Changing our Ways Executive action on climate change

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4 Ice Core /Temp

5 Global Temperature record

6 CO2 levels 20,000 years

7 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) The Physical Science Basis of Climate Change (February 2007). Concluded - now indisputable evidence that human activities since 1750 have warmed the climate. Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (March 2007) Report shows for first time that rising temperatures caused by human induced climate change over the last 30 years have already had an impact on people and the environment. In the 21st century climate change will have significant impacts for the natural environment and human society. Mitigation (April 2007) There is a significant economic potential for cost-effective mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from all economic sectors over the coming decades, sufficient to offset growth of global emissions or to reduce emissions below current levels. Mitigation efforts over the next two to three decades will determine to a large extent the long-term global mean temperature increase and the corresponding climate change impacts that can be avoided.

8 Impacts of climate change on Scotland Handbook of Climate Trends (2006) Over last 60 years: - Temperatures risen - Rainfall increased dramatically in winter months Climate Change scenarios UK Climate Impacts Programme. Future for Scotland: –more extreme weather with warmer, wetter winters, –up to 90% less snowfall, –sea levels rises of up to 600mm threatening coastal areas –and an increased risk of flooding.

9 Scotland has a leadership role to play Political Technological Moral Scotland the leader

10 Kyoto UK Climate Change Programme UK Climate Change Bill Playing our part

11 UK Climate Change Bill Four pillars:- To set statutory target to reduce carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, to introduce 5-year carbon budgets as milestones towards target and to provide for carbon credits purchased on the international market to count towards the target. To establish a Committee on Climate Change with a UK remit to advise Government on reduction of emissions. To create enabling powers to put in place new emissions trading schemes. To improve monitoring arrangements and reporting to Parliament.

12 Scotland’s Climate Change Programme

13 Scottish Climate Change Programme

14 Scotland’s Climate Change Programme Ambitious Mitigation and adaptation Sector level Evolving Action for all

15 This is not just a job for central Government. Everyone must accept responsibility and contribute to `changing our ways' if more sustainable patterns of behaviour are to be adopted.

16 Mainstreaming Senior Managers Policy Makers – big wins Analysts & Scientists All staff

17 SNP Manifesto Commitments Scottish Climate Change Bill - 3% carbon reductions per annum setting long term commitment to to cut emissions by 80% by 2050 Improving energy efficiency Sustainable flood management Proposed EU wide green energy research centre in Aberdeen Support development of CCS Develop offshore generation capacity and promote growing of energy crops

18 STRATEGIC RESEARCH NEEDS Measuring Scottish Consumption of Carbon A Scottish Green House Gas Inventory? Consequences for carbon emission of land use change Environmental and carbon consequence of renewables (biomass, wind and wave and tidal energy) Gaps identified by Agriculture and Climate Change stakeholders group Specific needs in Forestry

19 SOME KEY QUESTIONS  What will a low-carbon economy look like, what does it mean for the land use and other sectors. How do we transition towards it and what impact will that transition have on our existing systems and industries?  At what scale should we focus attention and resources for delivery of outcomes of a well-adapted, low-carbon economy Scotland – the field/the farm/the landscape? Can we scale up what works at local level regionally or nationally?  How much longer will we or can we wait before we take the difficult decisions on sustaining our natural resources and consequently over what time scale should we be expecting commissioned research to deliver? Should flood protection schemes continue to be developed or should we change how we manage water upstream – through sustainable flood management? How do we balance the need to adapt to both local and global consequence of tackling and adapting to climate change

20 “The maps of the world will need to be redrawn” Sir David King UK Science Advisor

21 British Isles + !

22 Changing our ways www.scotland.gov.uk/climatechange


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