- New plan gives local people a stronger voice
A new blueprint sets out how people across Scotland can play a
bigger part in the country's response to the climate and nature
crisis.
The Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature aims to
enable people to understand what climate change means for them,
encourage local action and ensure people's voices shape the
decisions that affect them.
A separate Delivery Plan, due in spring 2027, will set out the
specific activities, partnerships and commitments that will bring
the strategy to life at a local and national level.
With 72% of people in Scotland agreeing climate change is an
urgent problem, the strategy aims to turn that concern into
meaningful participation, while stepping up work to prepare
communities for impacts like flooding and extreme weather. The
launch also continues the progress made on climate action, with
greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland cut by 50% since 1990.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs launched the strategy ahead
of a visit to Lapwing Lodge Outdoor Centre in Paisley to view
Scottish Government-backed environmental improvements including
solar panels, battery storage and an EV charging point. She said:
"Everyone has a part to play in tackling the twin crises of
climate change and biodiversity loss. Everyone also stands to
benefit from doing so. People and communities are central to
this, not just by making their own lives more sustainable, but by
helping shape the solutions that work best for their local areas.
This strategy, published during Scotland's Climate Week, is about
turning that opportunity into action, and that means giving
people a real say in the decisions that affect them.
"The last year has shown just how urgent and necessary climate
action is. From wildfires to flooding, coastal erosion and even
water scarcity, climate change is already affecting our
communities, and these impacts will only become more frequent and
severe. Climate Week is a chance to show what progress actually
looks like, and to remind people that this is something positive
we're all part of, together."
The new strategy recognises the value of different approaches to
supporting people to meet the challenges of the changing climate
from grassroots initiatives to national awareness campaigns. For
local people, this means information on practical help with
protecting their homes from flooding, restoring habitats such as
rivers and peatland, and changing travel habits or how homes are
heated, as well as more targeted support for those most at risk
from extreme weather. It also means having a say in how their
area responds, and a stronger connection with nature closer to
home.
Background
The Public Engagement Strategy for
Climate and Nature.
The Scottish Climate Survey
shows that 72% of respondents believe climate change is both an
immediate and urgent problem.
