The Committee on Climate Change gives evidence to MSPs
Topical questions are on drug consumption rooms, prison officers quitting after sick-leave and a call for more support for families of people who die abroad
MSPs debate the UEFA European Championship Bill
A Green MSP leads a debate on Loch Lomond resort bid
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Claudia Beamish asks about the fact in Scotland there is still peat extraction going on.
We are very keen to see peat extraction stopped, replies Baroness Brown, who calls for a ban on having peat in compost, which is appalling.
Kathryn Brown says she is quite surprised there is not a national soil survey in Scotland.
Chris Stark says there is no high level commitment in the Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme , externalto address soil health and no development of a data policy programme for the Environmental Land Management Scheme.
He welcomes the commitment to more research on soil but adds there are no timescales attached.
It seems it is a "half baked half finished programme", he adds.
Image source, bbcGreen MSP Mark Ruskell asks about soil health
Kathryn Brown, the CCC's head of adaption, points out even understanding soil health is really very challenging.
Mr Ruskell asks who should be leading on that.
Mr Stark replies Defra have started a programme on that, but we will run out of time to do this properly unless we start in Scotland soon.
Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton says it is absolutely astonishing there is not better data in his area.
"I think we agree," replies Ms Brown.
Mr Ruskell asks if we are moving quick enough.
Chris Stark says the same detail has not been laid out in Scotland as it has at Westminster regarding the Common Agricultural Policy and the CCC will be "badgering" the Scottish government about this.
Baroness Brown suggests that thinking about adaptation does not yet come naturally to policy makers and that needs to change.
That said, she congratulates Scotland on its effort on peatland restoration and says the rest of the UK could look to Scotland on this.
Image source, Committee on Climate ChangeCommittee on Climate Change
The Committee on Climate Change, external (the CCC) is an independent, statutory body established under the UK's Climate Change Act 2008., external
It's purpose is to advise the UK government and devolved administrations on emissions targets and report on progress made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change.
It's priorities are to:
Mark Ruskell pivots to soil conservation.
Soil conservation is the prevention of soil loss from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical contamination.
What should be the defining approach so that we manage soil better, not just to capture carbon, asks the Green MSP.
Chris Stark replies: "Everything is about to change."
The CCC's chief executive warns that is due to the UK leaving the Common Agricultural Policy.
He warns there is not the same dedicated policy yet in Scotland in terms of soil and agriculture, which is of high concern.
SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson asks about international efforts on invasive species, highlighting this issues are not constrained by borders.
Kathryn Brown highlights to coordinated efforts across the EU to track species, as well as eradication programmes.
Image source, bbc"We need to recognise our landscapes will change," says Baroness Brown.
She adds it is about recognising which changes are dangerous.
Tory MSP Finlay Carson wonders about pressures on fresh water habitats, particularly from non-native invasive species.
He expresses concern about a pull back of funding for tackling this issue.
Kathryn Brown says loch conditions have generally been quite good but river conditions were not meeting targets as much.
Image source, Getty ImagesSome mussels introduced to the UK recently have disrupted food chains, warns Kathryn Brown
She highlights the reason some non-native species have moved is because of changes in climate, though she adds whether they are invasive depends on the degree of harm this movement brings.
If a new species is introduced to the UK due to climate change, it is not include in policies for tackling invasive species and that is a problem she tells the committee.
She calls for more joined up thinking between climate adaptation policy and invasive species policy.
Image source, bbcConditions in hospital will get hotter
Kathryn Brown, the CCC's head of adaption, says historically there have been more data gaps in Scotland than the rest of the UK, particularly in flood risks.
Some of these gaps have been plugged, which is really positive, however others remain, Ms Brown adds.
Baroness Brown points out adaption runs through everything from how we run our cities and the NHS to agriculture and forestry.
For example we will now need to look at how our hospitals are run in much hotter conditions, she explains.
"It has to be a thread that runs through absolutely everything."
Image source, Getty ImagesYoungsters across Scotland took part in the global youth strike last week
The Scottish government's targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions were strengthened in September, as MSPs voted to put down a "net-zero" target in law.
The Climate Change Bill - which aims to have all emissions offset by 2045 - was passed by 113 votes to 0 at Holyrood.
Ministers agreed to a Labour amendment to up the interim target, with members agreeing to target a 75% reduction by 2030, compared with 1990 levels.
However, a Green bid to increase this goal to 80% was heavily defeated.
Baroness Brown says some of the issues around data are simply on whether it has been collected in the years since the CCC's first assessment, such as on sustainable urban drainage systems or housing developments in potentially flood prone areas.
More challenging areas for data are about what data should be collected and what the right indicators to look at are, she explains.
She highlights the natural environmental as an example, where it is as yet unclear about what best improves resilience, with measures ranging from tree planting to allowing some farmlands to flood to protect other areas.
Image source, bbcBaroness Brown says the CCC's methodology is first of all about whether there is a plan actually focused on adaptation.
Then does it take into account changes in climate, she expands.
The CCC's adaptation chair points out: "We do need to be moving to action."
Kathryn Brown is head of adaption at the CCC
Convener Gillian Martin begins the session with a question on gaps in data and how the priorities for adaptations were arrived at.
Kathryn Brown says the outcomes and time frames in the Scottish climate change adaptation programme were vague so the CCC opted to split its assessment into 27 priorities.
These priorities mirrored the ones used in CCC assessments previously and those used to look at the equivalent programme in England, the committee is told.
Image source, bbcMSPs are taking evidence on climate change adaption from members of the Committee on Climate Change, external.
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, external convener Gillian Martin introduces:
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, external will shortly take evidence on climate change adaption from members of the Committee on Climate Change, external.
MSPs will then host an evidence session on Scottish Water, external investment priorities.
Image source, Getty ImagesMSPs will quiz members of the Committee on Climate change
Welcome to Holyrood Live's coverage of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 5 November 2019.
9.30am: MSPs take evidence from the Committee on Climate Change on adaptations
2.05pm: Topical Questions on:
Image source, Event Scotland2.20-5.00 pm: Stage 1 Debate: UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill - this aims to address ticket touting and protectthe commercial rights of the organisers
5.05 pm: Members’ Business: Ross Greer – Save Loch Lomond