1915 - Senior Analyst – Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme

Background:

The Climate Change Act (Scotland) 2009 (the Act) requires Scottish Ministers to lay an adaptation programme before the Scottish Parliament in response to the risks identified by the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment. The Act requires an independent assessment of progress to be made towards implementing the programme every two years following publication. A second assessment of the first SCCAP is therefore due before the next SCCAP is published in 2019.

Scottish Ministers formally requested the ASC to deliver a first independent assessment, which was published in September 2016. The Scottish Government also commissioned ClimateXChange (CxC), a collaboration of 16 Scottish research institutions, to develop indicators to monitor adaptation in Scotland.

Following the publication of the second UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) in 2017 the Scottish Government are in the process of drafting a second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme. Current plans include putting a suggested outcomes-based approach to the next SCCAP out to consultation in autumn 2018, followed by the launch of the new programme in early 2019. This independent assessment will add to the evidence base informing Scottish Ministers in their preparation for this second programme.

Objective:    

• Develop, oversee and implement a work programme that will deliver an independent assessment of the SCCAP ready for publication in January 2019

  Tasks:
• Support CxC delivery of an updated indicator set to measure trends in exposure and vulnerability to climate change and the uptake of adaptation action in key sectors such as agriculture and forestry, and the built environment. Maintain close liaison with the CxC team and the Scottish Government to provide feedback and ensure the final set of indicators are acceptable to the ASC and in line with those used in the ASC’s first assessment of the SCCAP.
• Carry out additional analysis to fill any identified evidence gaps.
• Interpret the final CxC indicators and associated data to assess trends in the priority climate risks and opportunities facing Scotland.
• Carry out a detailed assessment of the progress being made in implementing the policies and proposals underlying each objective in the SCCAP, liaising with the relevant owners of the policies/proposals and building on the annual monitoring and reporting arrangements planned by the Scottish Government.
• Undertake a review of implementation of the ASC’s 2016 recommendations for the SCCAP and the extent to which they are being met.
• Working with ASC members individually and collectively to combine, check and refine analysis and conclusions.
• Lead on drafting a report to the Scottish Parliament containing the results and conclusions of the evaluation, together with policy recommendations, to the ASC’s satisfaction.
• Work with the Scottish Government and CxC to arrange a launch event for the report in Scotland, potentially in the Scottish Parliament.
• Maintain close liaison with the adaptation team and the sponsors in the Scottish Government throughout, providing regular reports on progress and escalating any issues that arise.

The role will largely be based in Edinburgh with frequent travel to London required.

Candidates must also be available to start work as quickly as possible on the project.

Closing date: 26th march 2018 at 23;55 hours

Contact: Kathryn Brown kathryn.brown@theccc.gsi.gov.uk 020 7591 6083