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<div><div><div><div>Thanks for visiting our Story Map. This is an opportunity for everyone across Edinburgh and South East Scotland to share their experiences of the changing climate and weather in their area. You know your place best. We need your input to ensure that local voices are captured and that local knowledge is at the heart of plans for how we respond to these climate and weather impacts in the future. Add your story today and let us know what you would like to see done in your community to make it more resilient for the future.&nbsp;</div></div></div></div>

Climate Ready South East Scotland Story Map now live

The climate is changing across Edinburgh and South East Scotland. What changes have you noticed? How are they affecting where you live?

Add your story to our map today. 

Your story will help the Climate Ready South East Scotland project to understand how climate change is impacting people across the region, and to target the action required to respond to these changes. The project is led by sustainability charity Sniffer, working with the region's six local authorities.


Share your weather and climate stories

Climate Ready South East Scotland

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Simple actions that you can take at home to adapt.

Increase your resilience to the impacts of climate change

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1722442214/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/gy9xnjorr5acgfqkvzmp.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-uw-rm-alt-original="" alt="Adapting to the changing climate is uncharted territory for everyone. What should we do?" data-uw-rm-alt="CT">Adapting to the changing climate is uncharted territory for everyone. What should we do? &nbsp;Here are ten simple actions you can take at home today, to prepare for the impacts of climate change, and especially extreme weather events (like flooding, storms or heatwaves). They can also help you cope with other unexpected events which might cause disruption:&nbsp;<ol><li>Sign up for flood alerts from <a data-uw-original-href="https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/water/flooding/floodline/" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" href="https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/water/flooding/floodline/">SEPA&rsquo;s Floodline service</a> to be notified when the area you live, work or travel through is at risk of flooding. Floodline provides live flooding information and advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Even if you have never flooded before climate change is making flooding more likely and more severe. Remember to pass on flood alerts to vulnerable neighbours. &nbsp;</li><li>Sign up for severe weather warnings from the Met Office. Warnings are available live direct to your mobile via the Met Office smartphone apps (just search your app store for the Met Office app) or by <a data-uw-original-href="https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKMETOFFICE/subscriber/new" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" href="https://service.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKMETOFFICE/subscriber/new">email</a>&nbsp;</li><li>If you or someone you know has a health condition which needs electricity-powered medical equipment, make sure to sign up to your electricity provider&rsquo;s <a data-uw-original-href="https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/getting-extra-support-from-your-energy-supplier/#:~:text=You'll%20normally%20be%20able,sight%20and%20mental%20health%20conditions." data-uw-rm-brl="PR" href="https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/getting-extra-support-from-your-energy-supplier/#:~:text=You'll%20normally%20be%20able,sight%20and%20mental%20health%20conditions.">vulnerable consumer list</a>. Contact your energy provider to find out how. &nbsp;</li><li>Follow the Ready Scotland guidance on making an <a data-uw-original-href="https://ready.scot/prepare/emergency-plan" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" href="https://ready.scot/prepare/emergency-plan">emergency plan</a> and an <a data-uw-original-href="https://ready.scot/prepare/emergency-kit" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" href="https://ready.scot/prepare/emergency-kit">emergency kit</a>&nbsp; to make sure that you can cope with unexpected disruptions. &nbsp;</li><li>Make sure that you have batteries, candles, essential medication, insurance documents and a few days of food that can be eaten without cooking, in a safe place &ndash; just in case. As we saw in the pandemic disruption to supply chains can happen quickly and be unexpected. We are all much more resilient if we keep a store of essentials at home. &nbsp;</li><li>Carry out maintenance on your home and look for areas of damage regularly (every 3-6 months). If you spot small issues such as cracks in render, missing slates or vegetation on gutters or chimney pots, deal with them as soon as possible, or inform your landlord to stop them becoming a big problem later. Extreme weather could cause small issues to become big ones, and acting sooner rather than later can prevent the need for more costly repairs. Failure to adequately maintain your home can make your buildings and contents insurance invalid. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Installing blackout blinds and thermal curtains can help to reduce the risk that your home will overheat during heatwaves. To keep buildings cool when it&rsquo;s hot outside, keep windows and curtains closed during the hottest hours, and open windows at night to allow the heat to dissipate. Adding extra insulation to your loft, will also help during periods of extreme heat and extreme cold. &nbsp;</li><li>If you have a garden, think about resilience when looking after your outdoor space. Installing rainwater butts and not paving over natural surfaces in your garden will reduce the flood risk to you and your neighbours after extreme rainfall. Planting deciduous shrubs and trees to the south of your building, can provide natural shade in the summer months and prevent overheating, while still allowing light and warmth from the sun to enter the building in the winter.&nbsp;</li><li>Adapting to climate change is also easier when we work together - connect with your <a data-uw-original-href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/community-climate-action-hubs-contact-details/" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" href="https://www.gov.scot/publications/community-climate-action-hubs-contact-details/" id="isPasted">local community climate action hub</a>, or explore the <a data-uw-original-href="https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/how-adapt/tools-and-resources/community-climate-adaptation-routemap" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" href="https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/how-adapt/tools-and-resources/community-climate-adaptation-routemap">Community Climate Adaptation Routemap</a> for more ideas.</li><li>Check out the <a data-uw-original-href="https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/" data-uw-rm-brl="PR" href="https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/">Adaptation Scotland website</a> for resources and more information on climate change impacts, and what you can do to prepare. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ol>We are all responsible for our resilience. Taking simple actions now will help us, and others in our community to thrive despite the changing climate.&nbsp;

If you use a screen reader, please use this alternative accessible survey for the map tile.

Accessible map survey

Your stories will help us understand how extreme weather and climate change are affecting our communities.To add a story:1. Think of a place you would like to comment on2. Answer the questions to guide you in sharing a story about this place.3. Your stories are anonymous. After adding a story, you will be asked for your email and some basic demographic information. This is not shared publicly and is collected to help us ensure a balanced group of people has contributed.&nbsp;

We'll be updating this page shortly. Come back soon to find details of events and an engagement tool

Hold a climate story event

We'll be updating this page shortly. Come back soon to find details of events and an engagement tool.

Find out more about the changes in our region and our response.

How is our climate changing and what is adaptation?

How is our climate changing?

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1719579572/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/oy5biubct6qg2qnlca0t.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A sketch of Millerhill waster and energy recovery centre in Midlothian">The impacts of a warming climate vary considerably with season and location and are already being felt around the world. If trends seen in 2023 continue then it is likely that the world will overshoot our 1.5⁰C target, within the next 5-10 years.For Edinburgh and South East Scotland our regional climate is becoming increasingly extreme and hard to predict. Over the last few decades we have experienced a warming trend, shifting rainfall patterns and rising sea levels. These changes have accelerated considerably and since the year 2000, records for extreme temperatures and rainfall are being broken nearly year on year. To explore the observed climate in our region, visit the <a href="https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate/uk-climate" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Met Office</a> website.&nbsp;Temperatures&nbsp;Scotland&rsquo;s 10 warmest records have all occurred since 1997. Average temperatures in Scotland in the last decade (2014-2023) were 1.02&deg;C warmer than the 1961-1990 average.&nbsp;The hottest day ever recorded in Scotland occurred on 19 July 2022 as temperatures at Kelso in the Borders hit 35.1&deg;C (95.1&deg;F). During the summer of 2022, temperature records all over the UK were broken &ndash; not by a small percentage, but by a significant margin.&nbsp;The image below from the University of Reading&#39;s <a href="https://showyourstripes.info/c/europe/unitedkingdom/edinburgh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">warming stripes</a> project, shows how average annual temperatures in Edinburgh have changed from 1850 to the present day.<a href="https://showyourstripes.info/c/europe/unitedkingdom/edinburgh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1718976158/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/kkxeqad1pfu2zxw3h7lv.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-uw-rm-alt-original="" alt="Observed temperature change in Edinburgh from 1850 to 2023, relative to average conditions 1961-2010. Created by Ed Hawkins and the Warming Stripes team at University of Reading"></a><a href="https://showyourstripes.info/c/europe/unitedkingdom/edinburgh" id="isPasted"></a> Rainfall&nbsp;South East Scotland&rsquo;s rainfall patterns have become increasingly extreme and erratic. An increasing proportion of our rainfall now falls in torrential downpour events.&nbsp;Annual rainfall has increased by 10% compared to the 1961-1990 average, and over the last decade winters were 29% wetter compared to that time.&nbsp;In 2024 the region has experienced an exceptionally wet winter and spring. For example, double the average monthly rainfall fell in just the first two weeks of April 2024 in Edinburgh. This has led to flooding, transport disruption, waterlogged land, and considerable difficulties for farming.&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1718969698/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/w0rptzfjld1obxjlaxs0.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-uw-rm-alt-original="" alt="A sketch of Linlithgow Palace in West Lothian">Storms&nbsp;While there is no clear trend in the climate record of whether we are getting more storms in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland region because of climate change, a warmer atmosphere allows storms to carry more rainfall and can lead to more powerful wind gusts.&nbsp;Edinburgh and South East Scotland have been battered by a succession of wind storms over the 2023-24 autumn and winter period. Particularly problematic was the succession of storms coming in from the east which caused unprecedented damage to the region&rsquo;s coast.&nbsp;We are also seeing more wind storm events when trees are in leaf, which makes trees more vulnerable to falling and poses risks to buildings and infrastructure nearby. &nbsp;Sea level rise&nbsp;Sea level rise is driven by expansion of water volume as the ocean warms, melting of mountain glaciers in all regions of the world, and mass losses from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. All of these result from a warming climate.&nbsp;When we talk about sea level rise in millimetres most people hear that sea level rise is insignificant and not worth worrying about, but the rate of sea level rise is accelerating thanks to glacier and ice sheet melt.&nbsp;Observations show that while UK mean sea levels rose 7cm between 1900 and 1993, over the last 30 years they rose by 11.4cm. There is a large range of uncertainty in how much sea level will rise and how fast this might change, but if major ice sheets are destabilised and melt then we are likely to face multi-metre sea level rise.&nbsp;The tipping point for breakdown of the ice sheets in Greenland and the Antarctic are uncertain but recent research indicates that sea level rise will continue for centuries and should be planned for today&nbsp;<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1718969745/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/sfurnspltfbygnljt4fh.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" data-uw-rm-alt-original="" alt="A sketch of Roslin Chapel in Midlothian">What about the future?&nbsp;Even if we achieve net zero emissions tomorrow, further significant changes to our climate and sea levels are unavoidable because of warming that is &lsquo;already locked in&rsquo; from emissions released in previous decades.&nbsp;This is because when emissions are released to the atmosphere, depending on the greenhouse gas, it can take decades for the full warming effect of those emissions to be felt.&nbsp;The changes we are already seeing are projected to continue and intensify for decades after we reach net zero.&nbsp;To find out more about future climate projections visit the <a href="https://climate-themetoffice.hub.arcgis.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Met Office climate data portal</a>&nbsp;or check out this <a href="https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/application/files/5716/1114/1258/Climate_projections_for_Scotland_summary_single_page_FINAL.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">simple summary</a> produced by Adaptation Scotland and the Met Office. &nbsp;What is adaptation and why do we need to adapt?&nbsp;People have always adapted how they live to suit the local climate &ndash; whether that is the food we grow, the clothes we wear or how we build our homes.&nbsp;Our society, architecture, infrastructure, agriculture, and settlement patterns were designed (consciously and unconsciously) to suit past climate conditions.&nbsp;Today many of these fundamental elements of modern life are increasingly operating far outside of the conditions that they were designed to cope with. When our climate changes, we need to adjust.&nbsp;This could include making changes to our buildings, so they stay cool during hot summers or rethinking where we locate infrastructure so that it is at lower risk of flooding. We also rely on natural systems and species, that also need help to adapt to climate change.Adapting to climate change has two aspects:<ul><li>Adapting to present climate and weather&nbsp;</li><li>Making changes based on future projected changes in the climate&nbsp;</li></ul>Our places are always changing, and adaptation is an ongoing process. There will be considerable variations based on local conditions and priorities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Adaptation that is right for one place may not suit another. What good adaptation looks like in a place will evolve as the climate and our society continue to change.&nbsp;To find out more about what adaptation is, visit <a href="https://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk/what-adaptation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Adaptation Scotland</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Find out how your weather and climate stories will be used

Why do we want to hear your stories?

Why are we interested in your weather and climate stories?

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1719579445/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/sgzz64gyhu8gntathpfj.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A sketch of Bass Rock in East Lothian"> The impacts of climate change are felt differently in different places. This is true at a global scale, but also locally.For Edinburgh and South East Scotland, we know that the changing climate means more extreme weather; hotter, drier summers; milder, wetter winters; and sea level rise. But we know that the impacts of these changes, and the actions we need to take to respond, will vary across our communities.We also know that the most vulnerable people and communities are also often the most at risk from the impacts of climate change &ndash; from floods, to heatwaves, to changes at our coast.Communities know the places they care about the best. That&rsquo;s why we want to hear your stories of how extreme weather, and our changing climate, are affecting your communities, and your daily lives and livelihoods. We want to hear about the changes you&rsquo;re seeing, the challenges you face, and what we can do to make our region more resilient.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1719579486/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/okthj0if8c1rh4byeinj.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A sketch of St Andrew's in Fife">

<h2>How will we use this information?</h2>The Climate Ready South East Scotland project is carrying out a regional climate risk and opportunity assessment. We&rsquo;ll be bringing together the latest scientific evidence, data and plans from organisations across the region.But just as important are the stories, and the lived experience, that adds real-world context, nuance, and humanity to this data. We don&rsquo;t want this risk and opportunity assessment to just be a technical exercise, but also an opportunity for people across Edinburgh and South East Scotland to share their experiences of our changing climate.These stories will feed into the final risk and opportunity assessment report, which will help to identify the priorities for action to respond, and adapt to the impacts of climate change across the region. These actions will require innovation, new collaborations and working across sectors, and local knowledge will be key.&nbsp;The information will also be shared with local authorities, to help shape more detailed local responses.<h3 id="isPasted">Find out more</h3>You can find out more about <a href="https://climatereadyses.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Climate Ready South East Scotland</a> on the <a href="http://www.climatereadyses.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">project website</a>, or sign up to our <a href="http://eepurl.com/iFUPj2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mailing list</a> to keep up to date with the latest news.You can also find out more about <a href="https://climatereadyses.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/how-is-our-climate-changing/step1">how the climate is changing</a> in our region and across Scotland.<h2 id="isPasted"><a href="https://climatereadyses.commonplace.is/en-GB/map/climate-ready-south-east-scotland-story-map" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Add your story to the map now!</a></h2>

Climate Ready South East Scotland Story Map

Your stories will help us understand how extreme weather and climate change are affecting our communities. 

To add a story: 

1. Locate the place you would like to comment on, either by using the search bar or by navigating around the map. 

2. Click the "Have your say" button and place a pin. You will then be asked a few of questions to guide you in sharing a story about this place. 

3. You can also use the map to learn about other people's experiences across the region. Click on any icon to learn more. 

4. Your stories are anonymous. After adding a story, you will be asked for your email and some basic demographic information. This is not shared publicly and is collected to help us ensure a balanced group of people has contributed.

<a data-uw-rm-brl="false" href="https://climatereadyses.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/why-do-we-want-to-hear-your-stories/step1" style="background-color: #0090ba; color: #fff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 9px; padding: 12px 12px;">Why do we want to hear your stories?</a>
 
If you are using a screenreader - <a href="https://climatereadyses.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/accessible-map-survey/step1">please use our accessible survey here</a>

About Climate Ready South East Scotland

What is Climate Ready South East Scotland?

<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1719579407/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/q8vk0krars6i9xtgqdj1.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A sketch of the Eildon Hills in Scottish Borders">Climate Ready South East Scotland is a new project to support collaborative climate action in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region. The project is led by <a href="http://www.sniffer.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">sustainability charity Sniffer</a>, working closely with our six local authorities: City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian.Across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region, our climate is already changing, and will continue to do so. This means more extreme weather; hotter, drier summers, wetter winters, and rising sea levels.These changes will affect our communities, and the places we care about &ndash; where we live, work and play. They will also affect the natural world, and the systems that we rely on, from transport, to food. <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/commonplace-digital-limited/image/upload/v1719564135/projects/665f2ea84baff8b888b568b6/s4j7j9an8lpkdat9duva.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="A sketch of Calton Hill in Edinburgh">By carrying out a climate risk and opportunity assessment between now and March 2025, Climate Ready South East Scotland will help us to better understand how climate change will affect our region. It will also highlight where more action is needed to protect the places we live, so that our communities can flourish in a changing climate.We&rsquo;re gathering stories, data, and evidence to shape the risk and opportunity assessment &ndash; including through this <a href="https://climatereadyses.commonplace.is/en-GB/map/climate-ready-south-east-scotland-story-map" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Story Map</a>.<h3>Find out more</h3>You can find out more about <a href="https://climatereadyses.org.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Climate Ready South East Scotland</a> on the <a href="http://www.climatereadyses.org.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">project website</a>, or sign up to our <a href="http://eepurl.com/iFUPj2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mailing list</a> to keep up to date with the latest news.You can also find out more about <a href="https://climatereadyses.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/how-is-our-climate-changing/step1">how the climate is changing</a> in our region and across Scotland, and <a href="https://climatereadyses.commonplace.is/en-GB/proposals/why-do-we-want-to-hear-your-stories/step1">why we want to hear your weather and climate stories</a>.