Climate change brings with it many challenges, one of the major ones being increased rainfall resulting in flooding.
This is a year round issue, with more winter rain increasing river flooding, and intense summer downpours flooding drainage systems flooding roads.
As global temperatures continue to rise, the Scottish Government is increasing budgets and looking at ways to make the country more resilient against floods.
Scotland's National Planning Framework (NPF4) is already preventing development of areas of flood risk, with this flood resilience strategy providing further focus in this area.
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Mairi McAllan said:
“Flooding is Scotland’s biggest climate adaptation challenge. As we have sadly seen recently, it can have a devastating impact on communities and people - as well as the direct impacts to flooded homes and business, it can disrupt lives, livelihoods and affect physical and mental health long after the waters have receded.
“Climate change means extreme weather events like floods will become more frequent, which is why we’re investing £42 million each year and an additional £150 million during this parliament on measures to reduce the impacts of flooding.
“However, at the same time we need to learn to adapt the places where we live and work to flooding. We want to move away from thinking we can eradicate flood risk to a position where we are working across society to create flood resilient places.
“We want to hear people’s views on how we can reduce our exposure to flooding and lessen the impact when it does happen – and we want to involve a much broader range of people and organisations in doing so. I urge anyone with an interest to respond to our consultation to make Scotland as flood resilient as possible for generations to come.”
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Carol Raeburn, Director, Scottish Flood Forum said:
“Recovery from a flood event can be a long journey. Many of the communities we work with find comfort in forming a flood action group like the volunteers from Menstrie, Alva and Tillicoultry here today, showcasing what they can do to prepare for, respond to and look after their neighbours.
“With climate change we have all witnessed the frequency and severity of flood events in recent months. This is why it is so important that the people of Scotland take this opportunity to take part in the public consultation as individuals and as community groups to help shape Scotland’s first national flood strategy for future weather events.”
To read more, or take part in the consultation, visit the gov.uk website.