Adaptation Scotland Work Plan

Adaptation Scotland's work programme up to March 2013 is set out below providing an overview of planned work and taking account of a number of related documents:

• the deliverables referred to in Adaptation Scotland’s application for funding, agreed in February 2011;
• the stakeholder engagement event on 19 May designed to elicit views on future direction/ outcomes and success criteria’.

Based on the above, and building on successful work to date, seven workstreams are outlined below that Adaptation Scotland will pursue during the period of the contract with Scottish Government.  This work programme was agreed at a meeting of the Adaptation Scotland Development Group 28 July 2011.

Outcomes and success criteria for the work plan

In developing the work plan, account was given to the following which were agreed by the DG pursuant to the 19 May 2011 stakeholder workshop.

Workstreams

The following workstreams have been developed to cluster a number of activities that are required in order to satisfy the criteria set out above. The workstreams (with objectives and deliverables) are summarised below, with greater details of activities provided in ‘Work plan Timeline’ and ‘Work Plan Success Criteria’ both of which can be downloaded below. Within these workstreams, a number of activities are identified. Any constraints in terms of staff resources, (Adaptation Scotland comprises a team of four) and external costs (workshops and venues) will be assessed as part of the project plan for each activity and the work programme may be modified accordingly, or at the request of the client. 

1. Supporting Policy Implementation 

• Objective:  to support Scottish Government in the implementation of climate change adaptation policy, in particular providing support around the Sector Action Plans (SAPs) and the UKCCRA.
• Deliverables: to include workshops, briefing notes, and Community Engagement Strategy (linked Public Engagement Strategy).

2. Stakeholder Engagement

• Objective: engaging with stakeholders (both existing and new) thereby raising awareness of climate change adaptation as an issue. Work under this stream will also include involving stakeholders in specific projects and concentrating on specific issues relevant to climate change adaptation as well as developing links with the Devolved Administrations.
• Deliverables: to include events, case studies, information notes etc.

3. Information Gateway & Communications

• Objective: to continue as the portal for climate change adaptation information in Scotland.
• Deliverables: to include Adaptation Scotland website, newsletter, headline messages, increase use of social media, videos etc.

4. Developing Adaptation Resources

• Objective:  to develop resources, which will assist stakeholders with their work on adaptation.  
• Deliverables:  to include further developing the public sector workbook, business infrastructure communications,  adaptation case studies, briefing notes, communications packages, exemplar projects and updating climate information.

5. Training

• Objective: to develop and deliver training to equip a wide range of stakeholders with the skills, competence and confidence to address climate change adaptation in their organisations.
• Deliverables: to include training courses and online training packages.

6. Influence & Emerging Opportunities

• Objective: to pursue collaboration with other relevant partnerships both in Scotland / further afield to strengthen the role of Adaptation Scotland. To identify emerging opportunities (policy, community funding).
• Deliverables: to identify/pursue other relevant projects and alternative sources of income for Adaptation Scotland.

7. Governance & Management

• Objective: to ensure strategic direction and management of the Adaptation Scotland work programme
• Deliverables: an efficient and effective Adaptation Scotland programme of activities, with strengthened collaboration, influence and funding explored.

Key Achievements 2009 - 2011

Adaptation Scotland has made a significant contribution to raising the profile of adaptation in Scotland through undertaking support activities and, in particular:

• Adaptation Scotland website restructured and revised to increase functionality and range of information available, including key adaptation tools.
• Adaptation Scotland Newsletter now published monthly instead of quarterly.
• Set of 8 ‘Climate Projections in Practice’ events attended by around 300 delegates.
• Delivery of training events throughout Scotland provided on UKCP09
• Adaptation Scotland facilitated input by Scottish stakeholders into the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (UKCCRA) including organising two key events.
• Support to Scottish Government in the implementation of climate change adaptation policy, in particular providing support around the Sector Action Plans
• Guidance for businesses on how to adapt to a changing climate plus a series of SME ‘information sheets’ published.
• Adaptation Scotland’s public sector guidance, ‘Adapting to climate change: An introduction for policy makers, resource managers and practitioners’ and the accompanying public sector adaptation workbook published. 
• Adaptation Scotland has developed an interactive map used to provide a national overview of LCLIP project findings and provide access to project information for each of the local completed projects.
• ‘A9 Project: Climate Change in the Central Highlands’ - Identifying vulnerabilities and adapting to climate change: an area-based approach.