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Climate Change Assessment Tool (CCAT)

07 Mar 23

Are you a public sector organisation? Looking to hit carbon emissions reductions targets? With the Climate Change Assessment Tool (CCAT), you can assess your current performance and make a solid action plan for the future.

Cutting carbon emissions and preparing for the impact of changes to the climate already in the pipeline are two distinct, and complex, challenges for any organisation. You need everyone on board, and a coherent, far-seeing approach that will enable you to meet short-term goals whilst paving the way for long-term ambitions.

The Climate Change Assessment Tool (CCAT) has been specially devised to assist public sector organisations comply with the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, both in terms of meeting carbon emissions reductions targets and reporting to the Scottish Government.

CCAT

The CCAT tool enables even a large organisation to formulate an honest appraisal of current practice, with 28 questions, covering 5 categories, leading to a self-assessment score of between 0-4. This is designed to be revisited annually, for up to five years, to give a comprehensive overview of progress made and where weaknesses continue to exist. It is not a marketing exercise, but an opportunity to come to terms with the challenges of climate change.

CCAT Guide and PowerPoint presentation

Taking the temperature of a public body is not a one-person exercise, so may we suggest a workshop setting? Our guide will detail what you need, who you need, and what you need to get out of it, getting right down to the small stuff, including trouble-shooting, for instance, what if two staff members fail to agree?

The kit includes a template PowerPoint presentation to adapt to fit your needs, and help shape your approach to 2020 and beyond.

CCAT Guidance Document

This handy 32-page guide explains the twin issues of climate change mitigation and adaptation, and makes the case for both. In short:

  • Mitigation - is essential to offset the possibility of irreversible and catastrophic climate change, and is now your legal duty
  • Adaptation – climate change is already happening, and if projected impacts are not tackled now, will ultimately cost you dear in terms of money and continuity

The guidance document outlines how change made now to cut emissions, for instance, through changing to biomass heating, can also contribute to future-proofing your organisation, by making it less dependent on carbon-based fuel sources.

Climate change is a major challenge, for every size and kind of organisation, but we can help you meet it in a thoughtful and structured way.