Climate Change and Land Management – SEPA’s role Janet Moxley (Senior Scientist – Climate Change) and Lorna Harris (Wetland Ecologist), SEPA

Content  Climate Change (Scotland) Act – what is required? SEPA’s role?  Analysis of existing monitoring data (TOC and DOC)  Link to land management pressures  Developing policy and guidance

Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009  80% reduction by 2050  Six greenhouse gases  Interim target 42% 2020  Duties on public bodies to contribute to the delivery of targets in exercising its powers (including decision making)  Adaptation programme  Land Use Strategy by 2011  Energy Efficiency Action Plan

Other Scottish Policies  Government’s Economic Strategy  Adaptation Framework  Renewables Action Plan 20% by 2020  50% (electricity) by 2020 and 31% by 2011  11% (heat) by 2020  10% transport

SEPA’s role in addressing Climate Change  Keep up to date with climate change science  Advise Scottish Government  Regulate major energy users and producers under PPC and EU Emissions Trading Scheme.  Monitor key environmental parameters  Advise business on energy and resource efficiency and waste minimisation.  Promote sustainable flood management practices and lead flood warning  Promote soil conservation  Work with SEARs partners to minimise emissions from agriculture and rural land use sectors

TOC in Rivers  58 sites river have > 10 years data. (All in N)  39 of these showed TOC concentration increases, the rest no trend.  Only decreases were the Carron (Falkirk) and Forth (Craigforth) (< 10 y data).  Increases mainly in east.  Mean increase 0.12 mg/l/y – increase of 0.25 mg/l over 20 years (doubling).  Concs +vely correlated with flow  “Spikier” results at 15 sites in NE

DOC in Lochs  Good network of sites, but generally < 6 years data.  Decreases in concentration at 45 sites, increases at 8 sites.  Unclear why lochs show different trend to rivers

Land Management and Carbon  Changes in land management and use suggested as causes of increased carbon loss from soils (TOC increase in rivers)  Soils in Scotland contain ~3000Mt C  Peatlands contain 53% of Scottish carbon store  Scottish peatlands may accumulate up to 0.4 Mt C per year – if in good condition...  Floods Act requires sustainable approach to flood management  Restoring peatlands can help to mitigate climate change by improving carbon storage

 Work with SEARs partners to minimise carbon loss from all organic soils/peatland usages  Agriculture  Hydro schemes  Wind farms  Wind Farms - Various problems arise when a wind farm is located on peat;  Changes to hydrology (drainage/flooding)  Run-off, silt control  Uncertain terrain – variable peat depth  Excavated peat – suitable use?

 SEPA is working with SEARs partners, the Scottish Renewables Forum, and the wind farm industry to find solutions to the various problems (including waste peat)  Ongoing projects;  ‘Good practice guidance for wind farm construction’ – workshop in May 09, draft documents produced  Series of meetings with SEARs partners and members of the wind farm industry to discuss problems and identify solutions