Scottish responses to climate change: National and local dimensions

This seminar focuses on steps being taken at the national level by the Scottish Government, and by a number of local governments, in both climate change mitigation and adaptation.  It will cover legislative, policy and planning aspects.

UK and Scottish climate change legislation sets out legally-binding targets for the abatement of greenhouse gases. This paper offers a critical review of Scottish Government proposals both for realising such targets (mitigation) and also for accommodating inescapable consequences of global warming (adaptation).  Particular focus will be on legislation claimed to be world-leading and designed to mainstream environmental considerations in Scottish policy formulation: the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.  The strategic environmental assessment (SEA) obligations imposed on Scottish policy-makers by this legislation will be examined in the light of the Local Footprints Initiative, which provides a means to quantify ecological and carbon footprints. The Initiative is being piloted by some Scottish local authorities as a way of proofing their development plan proposals for climate change implications.

Tony Jackson trained as an economist and is a past chair of the Institution of Economic Development, the UK's premier professional body for local development practitioners. He is a recognized authority on sustainable development and has worked in Africa, Europe, Australasia and North America on economic and environmental issues.

The seminar will include ample time for discussion. Drinks and snacks will be provided.