Planning and Climate Change

As one of the main creative driving forces behind the delivery of better places in Scotland, the land use planning system has an important role in mitigating and adapting to climate change and supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 introduced a key commitment for the Scottish Government, SEPA and other responsible authorities to exercise their duties with a view to helping achieve the Act’s objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to a low carbon economy.

Our role in the modernised planning system is to help enable good development in the right place and of the right design and quality, having regard to national planning policy, so that the environment is suitably protected and enhanced. Our advice on climate change and energy issues will reflect the basic premise that planning can contribute to climate change and energy objectives in three main ways: by influencing development location, design and layout and in some cases, operation and maintenance.

Scottish planning policy

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) external link sets out the Scottish Government’s policy on nationally important land use planning matters. The SPP provides policy on climate change in paragraphs 41-44.  

Carbon calculator tool for windfarm applications under Section 36 of The Electricity (Scotland) Act 1989

The Scottish Government has supported the development of the carbon calculator for use in the consideration of carbon savings from wind farm developments on peatlands which require consent under Section 36 of The Electricity (Scotland) Act 1989.  Originally published in 2008, a revised version was launched in June 2011. SEPA will validate final carbon assessments using this revised tool for Section 36 wind farm applications and the findings will be a material consideration by Ministers in determining such applications. Further guidance on this can be found on the Scottish Government external link website.

SEPA policy and guidance documents

Climate change affects many issues within our remit. Further guidance on issues within our remit can be found on our planning main page.  Further information relating to SEPA’s corporate position on climate change, including our five year Climate Change  Plan, can be found here.

SEPA has published an Energy Position Statement pdf link (1297k) which sets out SEPA’s overall approach to energy. It considers energy generation, transmission and consumption – both renewable and non-renewable – and their environmental consequences. It also outlines how SEPA contributes to both existing and future challenges as we move to a lower carbon future.