Council chosen for climate change impact study project
Last updated | 21/02/2008
The impacts of climate change in Perth and Kinross is to be studied as part of a project which aims to improve the area's readiness for extreme weather.
Perth & Kinross Council will examine local media reports and individual experiences to build up a picture of the real effects of climate change in the community. The pilot research project will establish if this type of study can help local authorities plan for weather events and other effects of climate change more effectively.
The Council is one of four Scottish local authorities taking part in the project, which is led by the Scottish Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SCCIP), with support from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Sustainable Scotland Network and Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER).
Councillor Alan Grant, Convener of the Council's Environment Committee, said: “The detailed and complex scientific research being carried out on climate change has a huge role to play in predicting the challenges everyone will face in future.
"However, at a more local level there will be lots of anecdotal evidence about how extreme weather affects our area. What we want to see is if correlating this information in one place can help us to make better decisions about preparing for what the elements have in store for us. Taking a step back and having a fresh look may also offer insights into existing challenges or even highlight opportunities that we hadn't previously spotted.
"We are very pleased to have been selected for this project and to be working with partner organisations to see if it can help other local authorities."
Stewart Stevenson Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change said: “Our local communities have a vital role to play in responding to the impacts of climate change. This study is an excellent opportunity for Councils to look in detail at the community level threats and opportunities created by our changing climate. The project will also benefit other local authorities by providing them with useful information in support of their Climate Change Declarations - which commit them to taking action to reduce emissions and adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
“Climate change is not an issue any government can address alone. If we are going to achieve our national target of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050 we all need to accept personal responsibility and take local action. I wish Perth & Kinross Council every success in their study and I look forward to hearing about the results.”
