Research on the differential social impacts of climate change in the UK is being published today by the Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER)
The research, which was undertaken by CAG Consultants, draws attention to the link between climate and welfare, and scopes out national and local actions that redress the balance for those disproportionately affected by climate change. It provides a literature review and social impacts framework that recommends a number of key adaptation responses for government, agencies and community leaders.
Paula Charleson, Sustainable Development and Strategic Partnerships Unit Manager said: "We welcome this project and its reinforcement of the need for an integrated approach to policy. Crucially, the project will highlight the social impacts we need to consider alongside the environmental and economic impacts, in building our resilience and adapting to climate change"
Kate Wareing, UK Poverty Director, Oxfam added: "Oxfam knows that it is the poorest people in the UK who will be most affected by climate change - and that we have less than a decade to reduce carbon emissions before we begin to see irreversible, and devastating, changes to the world's climate. That is why we welcome this new report by SNIFFER, which not only identifies the impact of climate change on those on low incomes but stresses the crucial importance of involving low-income and vulnerable communities in developing solutions. Only by putting those most affected at the heart of tackling climate change will measures to prevent this looming catastrophe succeed."
Key findings of the work include that community empowerment is critical to building capacity to adapt to climate change, clear and consistent messages on climate change are needed, and climate change demands an integrated response to mitigation and adaptation, with action supporting the wider goals of sustainable development.
The partners for this project under the SNIFFER umbrella are: Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action and the Environment Agency. The work was funded as part of SNIFFER's Environmental Regulation Programme. The reports can be found on the SNIFFER website, using search code UKCC22.
For the press release please visit the SEPA website