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Read about SEPA’s Climate Change Plan for 2008 – 2012 here
Introduction
SEPA’s main aims are to be an effective regulator and a respected authority on the environment. We work to protect, inform and engage communities and promote economic well-being across Scotland. Raising awareness of environmental problems and solutions is the first step to promoting respect for our environment. SEPA, therefore, has a clear and important role to play in educating and encouraging changes in behaviour in Scotland’s response to climate change.
SEPA makes a significant contribution to both the UK and Scotland's response to, and understanding of, climate change. Our regulatory powers help to control industrial emissions, which have declined by over 40% since 1990. These powers do not, however, extend to all of the key sectors which contribute to Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Examples of some of the work SEPA does in the context of climate change are highlighted below.
Monitoring and Analysis
As well as operating Floodline, SEPA works closely with other organisations to manage flood risk in Scotland and promote sustainable flood management practices.
We maintain the Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory which is a register of site specific emissions to air and water for a range of specific pollutants.
We also aim to develop a long-term approach to understanding the implications of climate change to our seas, soils, water environment and air quality.
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Regulation
SEPA helps minimise industrial emissions by regulating major energy users and producers in Scotland.
We also implement the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). Emissions trading is intended to give companies the flexibility to meet emissions targets according to their own strategy. By allowing participants to trade in allowances, overall reductions are achieved in the most cost effective way. The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) covers emissions of greenhouse gases from a number of industries specified in the EU Emissions Trading Directive.
The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a new scheme proposed in the Energy White Paper 2007, which will apply mandatory emissions to cut carbon emissions from large commercial and public sector organisations. SEPA will be responsible for registering and monitoring scheme participants.
The production, use and disposal of fluorinated gases and ozone depleting substances also falls under SEPA's regulatory remit. We have been working with the Scottish Executive to resolve policy issues on the regulation of energy efficiency under Pollution Prevention and Control Permits for Scottish Industry.
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Advice to Operators
Our work with the agricultural and rural land use sectors promotes awareness of soil conservation, the minimisation of nutrient and agrochemical loss, reduced waste production and emissions to air.
SEPA provides guidance and advice to businesses and other organisations, particularly through promoting environmental best practice. It is well documented that businesses which think about their environmental impact and implement resource efficiency measures demonstrate substantial cost savings and reduce environmental emissions to land, air and water.
We concentrate on three areas of best practice;
SEPA is the Scottish partner for NetRegs, which provides free internet-based guidance on compliance with environmental regulation for small and medium-sized businesses throughout the UK.
SEPA is the Scottish partner for NetRegs which provides free internet-based guidance on compliance with environmental regulation for small and medium-sized businesses throughout the UK.
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Greening SEPA
The Greening SEPA programme implements our internal environmental policy, which commits SEPA to applying high standards of environmental responsibility to all of its operations. These include targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions; sustainable transport; waste minimisation; greener procurement and the promotion of biodiversity. Our management system and commitment to continual improvement sets stretching targets to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
SEPA's Internal Environmental Policy (IEP) principles also reflect the environmental components of Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy.
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Informing and Influencing
Working closely with the Scottish Executive, Local Government, the waste industry, non-government organisations and other stakeholders, SEPA plays a key role in co-ordinating Scotland’s National Waste Strategy. Waste collection, treatment and disposal impose considerable burdens on the physical, natural, cultural and human environment. If we adopt the Best Practicable Environmental Option for waste management in Scotland, greenhouse gas emissions will have reduced by an amount equivalent to taking 700,000 cars off the road (that’s some 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) by 2020.
SEPA does not have formal transport regulatory powers, however, decisions taken in transport policy have environmental consequences for air, water and land management and climate change. Efforts to encourage traffic reduction, for example, will also assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We, therefore, work with local authorities and others to reduce the environmental impact of transport.
SEPA is a Consultation Authority for the Strategic Environmental Assessment of public sector plans, programmes and strategies. Some SEPA plans, programmes and strategies, such as Area Waste Plans and River Basin Management Plans are also subject to SEA requirements.
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