How prepared is Scotland for severe weather over the winter? – BBC

Report on Scotland’s Extreme Weather Preparedness and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Climate Change and National Resilience

This report details Scotland’s comprehensive preparations for extreme weather events, framing these efforts within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The increasing frequency and intensity of storms, directly linked to climate change, necessitate a robust, multi-sectoral approach to safeguard communities, infrastructure, and public health. These resilience strategies are critical for achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by strengthening adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

Enhancing Infrastructure Resilience (SDG 9 & SDG 11)

A primary focus of the national strategy is to develop and maintain reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, a core target of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). This involves proactive measures across all major transport networks.

Road Network Preparedness

The trunk road network faces significant challenges, with flooding incidents increasing threefold in recent years. To mitigate disruption and ensure public safety, the following measures are in place:

• Winter Service Fleet: Approximately 240 gritters are deployed for salt spreading and snow ploughing.
• Salt Stockpile: A reserve of 497,000 tonnes of salt is available, exceeding the total amount used last winter.
• Technological Integration: Advanced weather forecasting systems, new sensors for early risk detection, and automated barriers are being utilized to manage severe weather impacts effectively.
• Strategic Planning: Dedicated snow plans have been developed for critical routes, including the M8, M74, and the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Rail Network Modernisation and Safety

Following fatal incidents linked to landslides, Network Rail is undertaking significant investment to enhance the weather resilience of the rail network, directly contributing to SDG 9 and SDG 11.5 (reducing disaster-related deaths and economic losses).

1. Infrastructure Investment: A planned expenditure of £1.9 billion from 2024-2029 is allocated for infrastructure renewal, with £400 million specifically for weather resilience.
2. Advanced Monitoring: Wireless tilt meters have been deployed at over 130 sites to detect slope movement and provide early warnings.
3. Specialised Equipment: The fleet includes snowploughs and a £1 million Winter Train for defrosting critical infrastructure.
4. Vegetation Management: Over £100 million is allocated to manage risks from hazardous trees and overhead lines.

Maritime Transport Resilience

Calmac’s ferry services, which are vital lifelines for island communities, are increasingly affected by adverse weather. The operational strategy focuses on proactive planning and communication to support SDG 11.

• Partnership and Planning: Calmac engages in resilience partnerships with emergency services and local authorities to coordinate responses.
• Public Communication: A key objective is to deliver clear and early messages to the public regarding service disruptions when severe weather is forecast.

Climate Action and Government Response (SDG 13)

The Scottish government acknowledges that climate change is the primary driver of year-round severe weather. The national response reflects a commitment to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by integrating climate change measures into national policies and strategies.

Policy and Public Awareness

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop emphasized the dramatic impact of climate change and the need for a collaborative approach. Key government-supported initiatives include:

• The Met Office’s named storm process to raise public awareness.
• Traffic Scotland’s gritter tracker for real-time information.
• Encouraging the public to plan travel in advance and heed official warnings.

Protecting Public Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

Winter pressures and weather-related incidents place a significant strain on health services. National preparations are aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by ensuring the health system can cope with seasonal surges and emergencies.

Strengthening Emergency Services

• Staff Recruitment: Nearly 100 new ambulance staff and over 250 newly-qualified paramedics have been recruited to support the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS).
• Public Guidance: Citizens are advised to use the NHS 24 service (111) for non-life-threatening urgent care to alleviate pressure on emergency response teams.

Preventative Health Measures

A public health campaign, led by First Minister John Swinney, urges all eligible individuals to receive the flu vaccination. This preventative measure aims to reduce hospitalisations, which exceeded 6,500 last year, thereby protecting individual health and reducing the burden on the NHS.

Multi-Agency Collaboration for Sustainable Goals (SDG 17)

The effectiveness of Scotland’s resilience strategy relies on strong partnerships, reflecting the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). A multi-agency approach ensures a coordinated response to severe weather events.

Integrated Response Framework

Police Scotland’s Head of Road Policing, Chief Supt Scott McCarren, highlighted the necessity of a multi-agency framework to “prepare, respond and recover.” This involves embedding police officers with Transport Scotland and working alongside road operating companies to ensure seamless traffic management and public safety during emergencies.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article discusses the strain on the National Health Service (NHS) during winter, the recruitment of ambulance staff and paramedics, long ambulance waiting times, and public health campaigns like flu vaccinations. It also mentions fatalities resulting from extreme weather events, directly connecting to health and safety.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • A significant portion of the article focuses on the resilience of transport infrastructure, including roads, rail networks, and ferries. It details investments in technology (advanced weather forecasting, sensors), maintenance (gritting, snow ploughs), and upgrades to withstand severe weather, which is central to building resilient infrastructure.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article highlights the disruption to transport networks (roads, rail, ferries) which are essential for connecting communities. It addresses the need for safe and resilient transport systems and the impact of weather-related disasters, such as flooding and storms, on communities, including power outages and damage to buildings.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The core theme of the article is the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events due to climate change. The Transport Secretary explicitly links the “dramatic” impact of climate change to the need for year-round preparedness. The entire discussion on resilience plans is a direct response to climate-related hazards.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. The article describes preparations for the “traditional surge in patients” during winter, the recruitment of almost 100 new ambulance staff and 250 paramedics to cope with pressure, and public health advice (flu vaccinations, calling NHS 24) to manage health service demand.
2. Under SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. The article details extensive efforts to ensure the resilience of Scotland’s transport infrastructure. This includes Network Rail’s plan to spend £1.9bn on infrastructure renewal, with £400m specifically for weather resilience, and Transport Scotland’s use of “advanced weather forecasting system, new sensors… and automatic barriers.”
3. Under SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. The article explicitly mentions deaths caused by storms, such as the driver killed during Storm Éowyn and the three fatalities in the Carmont train crash. It also notes that “thousands of homes were left without power” and buildings were damaged, highlighting the direct impact of disasters on people and property.
4. Under SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The entire article is an account of Scotland strengthening its resilience. It details “resilience plans for the season,” a “multi-agency approach” to “prepare, respond and recover,” and investments in technology and infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of storms, flooding, and snow, which are described as becoming more frequent due to climate change.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 3 (Target 3.d)
   • Number of healthcare staff recruited: The article states “almost 100 new ambulance staff had been recruited” and “more than 250 newly-qualified paramedics were also expected to be recruited this year.”
   • Hospitalization rates: It mentions that “more than 6,500 adults were hospitalised with the flu” last year, providing a baseline for measuring public health interventions.
   • Ambulance response times: The specific case of a footballer who “waited nearly 10 hours for an ambulance” serves as a qualitative indicator of a strained system.
2. For SDG 9 (Target 9.1)
   • Financial investment in infrastructure: The article provides concrete figures, such as Network Rail’s plan to “spend £1.9bn in infrastructure renewal, including £400m on weather resilience” and an allocation of “more than £100m” to target hazardous trees and overhead line risks.
   • Deployment of new technology: Progress can be measured by the number of “wireless tilt meters – deployed at over 130 sites across Scotland” to detect slope movement.
   • Resource stockpiles: The mention of “around 497,000 tonnes of salt is already in stock” is a clear indicator of preparedness.
3. For SDG 11 (Target 11.5)
   • Number of fatalities from disasters: The article reports “one driver was killed” during Storm Éowyn and three people died in the Carmont crash, which can be tracked over time.
   • Frequency of infrastructure disruption: The statistic that “flooding has restricted the trunk network for an average of 62 days each year” over the last three years, compared to “an average of 20 days from 2015 to 2017,” is a direct indicator of the increasing impact of water-related disasters.
   • Number of people affected by power outages: The statement that “thousands of homes were left without power” during Storm Éowyn is an indicator of a disaster’s impact on the population.
4. For SDG 13 (Target 13.1)
   • Implementation of resilience strategies: The article describes the existence of “dedicated snow plans for key routes like the M8, M74, M77, M80” and a “multi-agency approach” to disaster management.
   • Use of early warning systems: The reference to the “Met Office’s colour-coded travel warnings” and “new sensors to provide early warning of risk levels” indicates the adoption of adaptive measures.
   • Number of weather-related incidents: The mention that “400 incidents of damage had been recorded on the country’s railways after the storm passed” serves as an indicator of the scale of climate-related hazards.

4. Summary of Findings

Source: bbc.com