SCIS aims to bring climate impact into the decision making of local authorities and their local stakeholders at all levels. SCIS brings smarter tools, greater consistency and more support to drive climate change action at the local level.
The SCIS is supporting delivery of Scotland’s Climate Change Plan, to help deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland which is playing its part in leading the global response to climate change.
How we help local authorities
We provide data and knowledge on the actions needed to achieve net zero based on the current area-wide emissions profile, and to understand the likely costs, impacts and benefits of delivering them.
This helps local authorities to plan and monitor the measures needed to address the emissions sources within their local authority area, to check whether plans are on track and to assess where further actions may be needed and can be most effective.
Our data platform allows local authorities to project and cost different scenarios for emissions reduction, informing local planning and delivery with a better understanding of the likely impact and effectiveness of local policy and investment.
How we help officers and elected members
Understanding the climate change impact of decisions and projects can be complex. Different councils are taking different approaches, some using impact assessments or carbon budgeting to ensure organisation-wide buy in and to assist with decision making. Whatever the approach, leadership must work to understand and analyse the impact of projects, from strategies to capital works and infrastructure.
We recognise that elected members have influence on policy, development and decision making which can make a real difference to the quality of people’s lives and the communities of which they are part. The SCIS supports decision-making through an improved evidence base and provision of capacity building support.
By bringing a consistent approach, and developing skills and knowledge alongside it, the SCIS gives officers and elected members the data and confidence to embed climate impact into planning and decision making for future projects, policies and investment.
How we help local delivery partners
Plans for local emissions reduction are being led by local authorities but cannot be delivered by them alone. We can help to engage local partners who are critical to the planning, monitoring and delivery of actions for area-wide emissions reduction.
The SCIS data platform provides evidence and insights supporting local authorities to engage and inform the local partners who are critical to investing in and delivering local climate plans. These may include, for example, other public sector bodies with specific remits, bigger organisations in an area who have a significant local footprint or influence, or local developers and investors. These partners can also provide data on their own projects and actions which may contribute to area-wide emissions reduction.
How we help communities and local businesses
The SCIS supports local authorities in their engagement with community groups and constituents by demonstrating area-wide progress and priorities.
Our data platform has a public interface which allows anyone to see the current emissions profile of a local authority area, the measures and actions which will be needed to bring those emissions to net zero, and some of the progress being made. Making data public and visible can help to both inform and engage local communities and businesses on current plans and future needs for delivery of local climate action, by giving anyone access to data on current emissions for their local area.
Using the platform can help communities to understand current and likely future actions in their local authority area, why they are being taken, the benefits they can deliver, and to think about how businesses and communities can contribute to emissions reduction and net zero delivery.