FAQs

• What is climate adaptation?

  Adaptation involves us preparing for both extreme weather such as storms, and more gradual changes such as when growing seasons start and end.

  The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Adaptation Programme defines adaptation as, “The adjustment in economic, social or natural systems in response to actual or expected climatic change, to limit harmful consequences and exploit beneficial opportunities”.

  Learn more on the What is Adaptation page.

  What is the difference between mitigation, net zero, and adaptation?

  Mitigation is about reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. This includes emissions from all sectors, including transport, agriculture, energy, and manufacturing.

  ‘Net Zero‘ means the amount of greenhouse gas emissions we put into the atmosphere and the amount we’re able to take out will add up to zero. Our first step is to reduce emissions by changing our actions and processes.

  Adaptation is a process of on-going adjustments in response to observed and projected climate change impacts. This includes being prepared for increasing risks posed by climate change hazards, and identifying new opportunities our changing climate may bring.

  We’ve always had some extreme weather, why do we need to adapt now?

  Our climate is changing rapidly. We have already seen significant changes in our weather systems in Scotland, including more rain during the winters, and periods of drought in parts of Scotland during the summers. Our coastline is also changing, with sea level rise contributing to coastal errosion. The weather extremes we experience are also changing, with our hottest days getting hotter, and our wettest days getting wetter, as well as more intense storm events. All these impacts are projected to get more intense in the coming years due to climate change.

  Learn more in the Climate Change Trends and Projections page.

  What does good adaptation look like?

  Adaptation looks different in each place. It could be using scarce water resources more efficiently, or making changes to our buildings and infrastructure, or the way we manage trees in our forests so that they are less vulnerable to new pests and diseases or to storms or wild fires.

  Learn more about what adaptation looks like in different types of places in Scotland using the Climate Ready Places resource.

  How can I get involved in adaptation action?

  You can find tools and resources for the sector you work in, or the place you live, in the Take Action section of the website.

  You can also learn about adaptation collaborations and partnerships in your area in our Regional Partnerships page.