Scottish Borders Climate Resilient Communities Action Research Project Overall Aim: To facilitate conversations between, and actions by, local authorities and communities to enhance resilience to climate change • Esther Carmen - My role is project officer esther.carmen@scotborders.gov.uk • Funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation climate change and communities programme • Coordinated by the Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience (University of Dundee) • Scottish Borders Council is a partner • Working with three communities with a history of flooding
Focus 1.
2. 3. 4.
Linking flooding with other climate change and social justice issues Working collaboratively Supporting community action (policy links) Learning (apply process elsewhere)
Engagement University of Dundee
The council
Community Existing groups
Other organisations
Approach The project is arranged around a series of workshops and activities between the workshops
Prevalence 1st
HORIZON
1. Present concerns
Fuel choices and expense
Flooding – reduced access
Poor communication - mobile and broadband
Community cohesion and joined up decision making Flooding – physical losses and stress for Residents
2nd HORIZON
Rural businesses adapting to extreme weather
Lack of support for isolated properties and new comers o village
Pre 1919 houses more difficult to upgrade (energy efficiency)
3. Innovations in play
Flooding – high cost of insurance
Flooding Gravel build up in river
Ice and snow – keeping roads accessible Flooding – run off from land
Impact of flooding on older people
Tenants – limited power to upgrade and repair houses
2. Future aspirations
Extreme weather impacting on access to health services
Shop local
Village petrol pump
Vehicles using sustainable energy Use local contractors for work
Fuel (heating) coop Investment on roads and bridges Tourism – activities Community and events renewable energy Broadband and mobile phone mast
Community car, bus Community finance Apprenticeships for young
Use public transport Increase capacity of community development trust
Buoyant Community housing owned market services Renewable Health energy centre benefiting Thriving community Community economy – working jobs and Recreation activities together businesses and tourism Young infrastructure Good people and communication families in Community system – mobile village development and broadband trust - a self reliant community Thriving economy – tourism, land based industry
Good transport and access – rail way and petrol station
Remove conservation status and improve energy efficiency
3rd HORIZON
Present System
Transition Zone
Future System
Time