• Biodiversity
• Climate Change

In Scotland, biodiversity loss and climate change are being addressed through a more coordinated approach. By aligning biodiversity and climate adaptation strategies and policies, the Scottish Government is working to ensure that nature restoration and climate resilience reinforce each other, delivering benefits for ecosystems, communities, and the economy.

Addressing the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change requires more than parallel action – it demands integrated solutions. Across the globe, governments are increasingly recognizing that restoring nature and building climate resilience are deeply interconnected challenges. In Scotland, this recognition is driving a more coordinated approach to policymaking. By aligning biodiversity and climate adaptation strategies, the Scottish Government is working to ensure that nature restoration and climate resilience reinforce each other, creating benefits for all. 

This integrated approach reflects a broader shift away from separate policies for biodiversity and climate, toward more coordinated decision-making that connects both biodiversity and climate. 

Connecting biodiversity and climate strategies 

Traditionally, biodiversity and climate adaptation policies have been developed in parallel, often by different departments. In Scotland, these policy areas were initially designed separately, but growing awareness of their interdependence led to a more collaborative approach. 

Policy departments working on biodiversity and climate adaptation began to coordinate more closely, sharing knowledge and aligning priorities throughout the design and implementation process. This collaboration helped identify the central role of nature restoration and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in addressing both climate risks and biodiversity loss.  

As a result, biodiversity and climate considerations are now more strongly integrated across key national strategies, including: 

• The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (SBS) and its Delivery Plan  

• Scotland’s third National Adaptation Plan (SNAP3)  

A key outcome of this alignment is the integration of biodiversity actions into climate adaptation planning, including the development of a “Nature Connects” outcome within SNAP3. At the same time, the biodiversity strategy emphasizes how restoring ecosystems contribute directly to climate resilience. 

From policy alignment to practical action 

This integrated approach is helping to translate policy alignment into concrete actions across Scotland’s landscapes. 

The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy’s Delivery Plan highlights the importance of: 

• Blue-green infrastructure in urban and peri-urban areas  

• Landscape-scale nature restoration across rural environments 

• Strengthening ecological connectivity to support resilient ecosystems 

These actions contribute to building nature-positive, climate-resilient communities, while also addressing risks such as flooding, water quality, and ecosystem degradation. 

At the government level, collaboration across government directorates, including environment, climate, marine, planning, and infrastructure, has strengthened coordination and accountability. Clear ownership of actions across strategies ensures that both biodiversity and climate objectives are embedded in decision-making processes at national and local levels. 

Strengthening monitoring and shared knowledge 

Aligning biodiversity and climate policies also requires better integration of data, monitoring, and reporting systems. 

Scotland has taken a leading role in this area by developing a national adaptation monitoring framework, designed to assess progress toward climate resilience. Importantly, biodiversity indicators are now embedded within this framework. 

Around one-third of the indicators used to track climate adaptation progress are drawn from biodiversity and nature restoration policy areas, helping to capture the links between ecosystem health and climate resilience. 

While biodiversity and climate strategies operate on different reporting cycles, increased collaboration between policy teams allows for regular sharing of data and insights, strengthening the evidence base for decision-making. 

This integrated monitoring approach improves transparency and helps ensure that actions deliver measurable outcomes for both climate and biodiversity. 

Delivering benefits across sectors and communities 

Scotland’s approach is already contributing to more coordinated action across government and society. 

By aligning biodiversity and climate policies, the Scottish Government is: 

• Supporting public bodies in meeting both climate and biodiversity obligations  

• Encouraging collaboration across sectors, including infrastructure, land management, and business  

• Promoting nature-based solutions that deliver multiple benefits for people and ecosystems  

This approach also helps address key climate risks identified at the national level, including flooding, water availability, and ecosystem resilience, while improving access to nature-rich spaces for communities. 

More broadly, it demonstrates how integrated policymaking can unlock synergies between environmental priorities, rather than treating them as separate challenges. 

Lessons from an integrated approach 

• Policy alignment can strengthen both biodiversity and climate outcomes, creating more efficient and impactful strategies  

• Cross-government collaboration is essential to bridge gaps between policy areas and ensure coherent action  

• Integrated monitoring frameworks improve accountability and support better decision-making  

• Nature-based solutions provide a common pathway for addressing multiple environmental challenges  

By bringing together policy, governance, and implementation, Scotland is building a more cohesive approach to environmental action. 

Why this matters for COP17 

As the global community prepares for COP17, the need to connect biodiversity and climate agendas is becoming increasingly clear. Delivering on the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will depend not only on protecting ecosystems, but also on strengthening their resilience to climate change. 

Scotland’s experience shows how subnational governments can lead in aligning biodiversity and climate policies, translating global commitments into integrated action on the ground. 

By embedding nature restoration within climate adaptation strategies, and vice versa, Scotland is helping to bridge the gap between environmental ambition and implementation. 

This approach highlights a key message for COP17: effective biodiversity action cannot be separated from climate resilience. Strengthening this connection will be essential to delivering lasting benefits for nature and people. 

GBF targets addressed: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21. 
Focus area: Policy integration; Nature-based solutions; Climate adaptation; Governance; Monitoring and evaluation; Nature-positive development. 

Read More:
Scottish National Adaptation Plan
Annual Progress Report 2024-25

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