Funding is supporting local authorities to address climate change – government

The Scottish Government has said a total of £550,000 is supporting local authorities, health boards, community groups and businesses to work together to address climate risks.

The funding is part of a key action from Scotland’s National Adaptation Plan and will be provided through regional partnerships.

It comes ahead of a Climate Adaptation Leadership Summit in Edinburgh on Thursday.

The summit will be led by Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin and Permanent Secretary Joe Griffin and will see public sector leaders agree how to accelerate action and collaboration and build resilience to the damaging impacts of climate change.

Ms Martin said Scotland must be ready to “deal with the impacts that are already upon us” after experiencing wildfires and water scarcity in the summer.

She said: “While we must ensure Scotland continues to play its part in addressing the causes of climate change, we must also be ready to deal with the impacts that are already upon us.

“This year alone, we have witnessed the worst wildfires in living memory in the Cairngorms, high levels of water scarcity across the whole of Scotland, and 18 areas of Scotland recording their highest ever temperatures in the summer.

“All of these have had significant impacts on industry, farming, wildlife, and our daily routines, placing strain on the complex systems that sit behind simple actions we take for granted like turning on the tap, food shopping and travelling from A to B.”

The funding is being used to protect communities facing increased flooding, coastal erosion, extreme heat and water scarcity.

Projects aimed at protecting homes at risk of flooding and tackling the impacts of extreme heat in towns and cities are some of the initiatives that benefit from Scottish Government funding.

The government says it is also working on improving flood resilience for families in Glasgow’s Drumchapel area, where 15 homes were evacuated during a major flooding incident in 2021.

It will support the removal of drainage constraints that put vulnerable properties at continued risk.

Ms Martin continued: “This funding for Climate Ready Regions highlights the importance of investing in Scotland’s future and working in partnership – so that the places where we live and work are resilient to the impacts of climate change.

“There will be a huge social and economic payoff for decades to come if we get this right, by ensuring that Scotland keeps running smoothly in the face of climate disruption.”

Glasgow City Council convener for climate, councillor Angus Millar, said: “We’re delighted to have worked with Verture and the Climate Ready Regions project this year to accelerate action in the Glasgow city region.

“This funding is helping us work closely with community groups, businesses and others to build practical solutions that will make a real difference on the ground.

“Building resilience to flooding and other climate risks is essential for protecting our communities and local economy.”