Blog: The Regional Land Use Framework - Looking ahead to 2026
Our Natural Resources Strategy Manager, Andy Tharme, kicks off the first Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) Blog outlining the South of Scotland Regional Land Use Framework’s (RLUF's) approach to tackling climate change.
As we move into 2026 and cast our eyes to the year ahead, the recent cold snap has given us the first real sign of winter and heavy rains have caused flooding in some areas, and it might be hard to think about heatwaves and water scarcity.
Why climate change will demand our attention this year
In this first blog, I will talk about how this may be a year in which climate change focuses our attention and the long term plans we will need to address this.
In our RLUF we set out a vision, a set of objectives and actions for sustainable land use to help build resilience to climate change and to lead to a nature-positive future. The climate change projections within the framework are stark, with wetter winters, with increased frequency and intensity of rainfall.
What the climate projections tell us
On the other hand, late summer and autumn may become much drier, with water deficit across Southern Scotland, and with significant warming with temperatures between May-November being up to 4 degrees Celsius higher per month and warmer winters (up to 3 degrees Celsius) with an increased variability in rainfall and temperature (so may still expect cold snaps, but less frequently).
The trends of these climate projections are already starting to feel familiar. Increasingly there will be impacts on our ability to grow crops and rear livestock, timber production may be affected, our biodiversity will suffer and there will be an increased risk of flooding and drought that may impact on our homes, transport network and infrastructure.
A recent landmark report for UK Government highlights the risk of climate change and loss of biodiversity to our national security.
Growing signals from global climate patterns
An article I read a few years back, indicated that the recent El Nino event, intensified by climate change, would lead in 2024 to a heatwave in Southern Europe and very unsettled wet weather in northern Europe (think Euro 2024) and in 2025, the heatwaves would spread to cover parts of northern Europe (two years correct so far!).
In 2026, it said we can expect a more intense heatwave for all Europe. So locally we may potentially experience a prolonged period of water scarcity this summer, for which we must begin to prepare. The nature-based solutions to address these challenges may take many months and years to take effect but the time to act is now.'
How the RLUF helps us prepare
This is where the RLUF comes in, where the RLUP is beginning to take steps to build resilience within catchments in South Scotland and develop initiatives that will lead to nature-positive landscapes, providing the ecosystem services that society needs for an uncertain future.
Through a programme of start-up projects, we are laying the groundwork to ensure that businesses, communities and the environment can continue to thrive in the South built upon our high-quality natural capital, that underpins it all.
Projects underway across the South of Scotland
Our projects so far have included:
- Catchment-based natural capital plans in both Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders.
- Proposals for a regional peatland plan.
- An assessment of the state of nature in our region.
- Developing opportunities for community wealth building from natural capital initiatives.
What to expect in upcoming RLUP blogs
In each of the months ahead, we will be featuring blogs centred on the main themes of the RLUF and the actions we are taking. Topics include:
- Biodiversity
- Climate change
- Woodlands
- Forestry
- Agricultural sustainability
- Access & tourism
- Renewable energy
- Natural capital investment
- Development planning and communities.
We aim to demonstrate how the South of Scotland is leading the way, working in effective partnership to deliver.
Next month: Biodiversity and Business Opportunities
Next month we will consider biodiversity and the opportunities for businesses.
Interested in this item and would like to share your thoughts and ideas? Please contact rlup@sose.scot