SEPA consults on climate change plan

Scotland’s environment watchdog today (Tuesday 4 December) put out to consultation its five year climate change strategy.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has identified actions that will be taken over the next five years to address climate change and support the UK and Scottish Climate Change Bills.

Dave Gorman, head of environmental strategy said: “As Scotland’s environmental regulator, SEPA helps to control industrial emissions and works with regulated industry to maximise reductions in Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“This plan also highlights the important role we play in educating and encouraging changes in behaviour, as well as raising awareness and improving understanding of climate change and influencing positive behaviour and attitudes.”

Key objectives in the plan include SEPA: 

• Ensuring that our scientific monitoring and assessment activities are reviewed to ensure they remain fit for purpose in light of current and predicted climate change.
• Reviewing all regulatory activities over the life of the plan so that the impacts of climate change are fully considered when shaping environmental permits and making regulatory decisions.
• Giving prominence to climate change issues in our advice to businesses and others. This advice will be effective, consistent and timely, and will be developed with other agencies and partners
• Seeking to maximise and review all reasonable opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our own activities.

The consultation closes on Tuesday 4 March 2008. For further information or to view the strategy, visit

http://www.sepa.org.uk/consultation/index.htm