Navigating Climate Change in Scotland: The Highland Adapts Partnership

Introduction

Highland is by far the largest region in Scotland, covering nearly 10,000 square miles in northern Scotland. Home to vast landscapes, diverse communities, and rich natural and cultural heritage, the region is being profoundly impacted by climate change.

The Highland Adapts partnership was established 2021 to bring together communities, businesses, land managers and public sector together to facilitate transformational action for prosperous, climate ready Highland.Since 2021, Highland Adapts has evolved and developed. This case study shares the story so far.

Founding of the partnership

In 2017, the Highland Council’s Climate Change and Energy Team Manager Keith Masson (now Head of Net Zero Transition at Highlands and Islands Enterprise) first proposed the concept of a climate resilience partnership for Highland region. Over the next four years, Keith secured support across the region. The premise was simple: the challenge of building climate resilience was too great to tackle alone and necessitated a collective approach.

✓ Public Survey Gauged Support for Potential Partnership

2021

The first partnership manager, Emma Whitham, was hired. Emma worked with the partner organisations to develop the partnerships objectives, guiding principles, and partnership structure. Insights from this process helped assess what was feasible for the partnership, how it could develop, and what the priorities of potential partners were.

Highland Adapts was officially launched in September during Scotland’s Climate Week. The newly established partnership was showcased during COP26 in Glasgow.

✓ First Principal Project Manager Appointed

✓ Highland Adapts Officially Launched

✓ Partnership Showcased at COP26 Resilience Hub

2022

With support from Highland Council Climate Change Coordinator Katie Andrews, Highland Adapts co-hosted the First Highland Climate Festival with the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub. The festival brought together community groups, organisations, and individuals to raise awareness and inspire action on climate change.

During the festival, the Highland Climate Charter was launched, encouraging individuals, community groups, and businesses to commit to climate action. By signing the charter, participants pledged to reduce their environmental impacts and collaborate on building climate resilience across the region.

✓ First Highland Climate Festival

✓ First Highland Climate Charter Launched

2023

Highland Adapts launched the Highland Weather & Climate Story Map in March, which allowed people from across the region to share their experiences of climate impacts, helping to inform future adaptation strategies.

Highland Adapts’ new member of staff, Harper Loonsk, designed and delivered climate change adaptation, nature, and circular economy lessons for schools in Invergordon as part of the Climate Action Towns project.

In May, Emma Whitham left Highland Adapts, and Harper Loonsk stepped into her role as the lead staff member for the partnership. This year also marked the end of Chloe Sinclair’s graduate traineeship with Highland Adapts through the Highland Council. Alice Tirbooman joined Highland Adapts one day a week as part of her graduate position with partner Changeworks. Helen Lavery was elected as the new Chair of the Board.

Highland Adapts convened workshops with representatives from key sectors—forestry and timber, food and drink, and energy—to gather sector-specific insights on the current and future climate impacts and ongoing adaptation strategies.

✓ Highland Weather & Climate Story Map Launched

2024

Highland Adapts, in collaboration with the Highland Environment Forum, Highlands and Islands Climate Hub, and the Highland Green Health Partnership, relaunched the Highland Climate Charter as the Highland Charter for Climate, Nature, and Health. This expanded charter places greater emphasis on integrating climate action, nature conservation, and public health.

Highland Adapts published its Economic Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on the Highland Region, the first of its kind for the Highlands. This report outlined the economic risks and opportunities that climate change presents to the region as a whole and to three key sectors: forestry and timber, energy, and food and drink. The findings were a call to action for stakeholders to prioritise both climate mitigation and adaptation.

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029. Highland Adapts was recognised as a key regional partner in this national effort, leading the way on collaboration and adaptation strategies for the Highland region.

✓ Highland Charter for Climate, Nature, and Health Launched

✓ Economic Assessment of Climate Change Impacts Published

This Year

Highland Adapts is focusing on advancing the partnership through reflection and strategic planning. A future planning workshop in February brought together regional organisations and businesses to discuss governance and funding for the partnership’s next phase. Alice Tirbooman’s Graduate Trainee position ended. Savanna Hirth joined the partnership for a three month internship during which she conducted an evaluation of the partnerships, providing actionable recommendations for enhancing the partnership’s future impact while capitalising on its established strengths.

In April, Highland Adapts published new research on leveraging circular economy practices for climate resilience. The partnership is working towards the completion of the first Highland Climate Risk and Opportunity Assessment. Highland Adapts will also action its governance and funding models, enabling a new phase of growth with a greater focus on catalysing climate resilience projects across the region.

✓ Partnership Evaluation Conducted

✓ Circular Economy Research Published