OC3A Identify opportunities to include adaptation in plans, policies and procedures

Take a systematic look across the breadth of your organisation’s activities / functions to identify opportunities to include adaptation in plans, policies and procedures. Think about where you can make the most impact, but also look beyond the ‘obvious’ to areas that may not have considered climate adaptation.

Sub tasks:

Identify opportunities to include adaptation in various organisational plans, policies and/or procedures
- Use Templates 3 & 4 on organisational priorities and motivation in relation to adaptation completed in Task OC1A as well as the learning and leads from Task OC2B to highlight areas to explore.
Take advantage of opportunities such as consultation on new or review of pre-existing policies and strategies to submit comments on how adaptation could be included or incorporated.
Create a list of upcoming policy and strategy review opportunities and allocate time to providing consultation responses/ feedback on those with greatest potential to influence adaptation.
Speak with colleagues about incorporating adaptation into existing processes which can be used to screen new policies, plans, strategies and projects for climate-related threats and opportunities. Example processes and guidance which can incorporate adaptation include spatial planning, sustainable procurement guidance, business continuity arrangements and estate asset management guidance.
Consider policy and planning timescales and identify windows of opportunity.
- Identify timescales and processes for factoring adaptation into all relevant policies, plans and projects.
- Highlight where in the policy cycle it is easiest to incorporate adaptation and identify priorities for action.
- Provide evidence and communicate how and why adaptation should be included in strategic plans such as your organisations corporate strategy or asset management strategy.
- Use your organisation's risk registers (at corporate or service level) as a way to heighten awareness, consideration and action on climate adaptation.
- Work with your organisation's Risk Manager to define and embed adaptation risk within your risk register.

Resources:

Case study on embedding climate change adaptation on corporate risk registers with Stirling Council

Case study on developing a climate change adaptation plan and incorporating climate risk into risk registers with the University of Glasgow

Case study on Scottish National Heritage: An organisational culture that promote climate ready solutions to manage Scotland's nature and landscapes

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