Onshore Proposed Development
Table 1.3: Screening of Onshore EIA Receptor Groups Likely to be Sensitive to Projected Future Climate Hazards (green: not likely sensitive, i.e. screened out; orange: likely sensitive, i.e. screened in)
| Receptor Groups likely to be Sensitive to Climate Hazards (per Relevant Onshore EIA Report Topic) | ||||||||
Climate Hazard | Landscape and Visual | Ecology | Ornithology | Noise and Vibration | Cultural Heritage | Geology, Hydrology, Soils and Flood Risk | Traffic and Transport | Onshore Socio-economics | Land Use, Tourism and Recreation |
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Increase in air temperatures (across all months) |
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Increase in heat wave frequency |
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Increase in winter precipitation |
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Decrease in summer precipitation |
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Increase in summer storm intensity due to heavy rainfall events |
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Increase in mean sea level /flooding |
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Increase in winter wind speeds |
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Decrease in summer wind speeds |
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Table 1.4: Onshore In-combination Climate Impacts
Climate Hazard | Sensitive Receptor Group | In-combination Climate Impacts (ICCI) | ICCI Significance | Mitigation Measures |
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Increase in winter precipitation | All hydrological receptors
All land use receptors | Predicted increases in precipitation have been considered in the impact assessment for the onshore Proposed Development in the onshore Geology, Hydrology, Soils and Flood Risk chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 11). Increases in precipitation over time resulting in reduced yields, in combination with reduction in land area under production. Impacts on agricultural productivity would be reduced as part of the land acquisition process, including continued engagement with landowners regarding the timing of acquisition and access. | Not significant
Not significant | No further mitigation measures are required in addition to those appropriate mitigation measures proposed in the onshore Geology, Hydrology, Soils & Flood Risk chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 11) and the onshore Land Use, Tourism and Recreation chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 14).
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Decrease in summer precipitation | All hydrological receptors
All land use receptors | Predicted decreases in precipitation have been considered in the impact assessment for the onshore Proposed Development in the onshore Geology, Hydrology, Soils and Flood Risk chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 11). Decreases in precipitation over time resulting in reduced yields, in combination with reduction in land area under production. Impacts on agricultural productivity would be reduced as part of the land acquisition process, including continued engagement with landowners regarding the timing of acquisition and access. | Not significant
Not significant | No further mitigation measures are required in addition to those appropriate mitigation measures proposed in the onshore Geology, Hydrology, Soils & Flood Risk chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 11) and the onshore Land Use, Tourism and Recreation chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 14). |
Increase in summer storm intensity due to heavy rainfall events | Ornithology: Breeding bird assemblage | An increase in summer storms could lead to an increase in failed breeding attempts for nesting birds with heavy rain washing out nests or causing increased mortality in immature or unfledged individuals due to direct impacts of wet and cold or by a reduction in the times available for parent birds to search for food to feed young. | Not Significant | No further mitigation measures are required in addition to those appropriate mitigation measures proposed in the onshore Ornithology chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 8)). |
Increase in mean sea level /flooding | All hydrological receptors
Recreational coastal path – John Muir Way Link | Predicted increases in mean sea level/flooding have been considered in the impact assessment for the onshore Proposed Development in the onshore Geology, Hydrology, Soils and Flood Risk chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 11). Erosion / flooding of the John Muir Way Link coastal path north of landfall. Should it be required, an alternative path on higher ground will be discussed and agreed with landowners, ensuring a suitable route is present. | Not significant
Not significant | No further mitigation measures are required in addition to those appropriate mitigation measures proposed in the onshore Geology, Hydrology, Soils & Flood Risk chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 11) and the onshore Land Use, Tourism and Recreation chapter (Onshore EIA Report, Volume 1, Chapter 14). |
2. Summary
- An ICCI assessment has been undertaken for the offshore Proposed Development and onshore Proposed Development. The potential ICCI are not greater than the likely significant effects assessed in the relevant topic chapters of the Offshore EIA Report and Onshore EIA Report respectively, or have been assessed as not being significant.
3. References
Fullick, E., Bidewell, C. A., Duff, J. P., Holmes, J. P, Howie, F., Robinson, C. Goodman, G., Beckmann, K. M. and Philbey, A. W. (2022). Mass mortality of seabirds in GB. Veterinary Record. 190(3), pp.129-130.
Hakkinen, H., Petrovan, S.O., Sutherland, W.J., Dias, M.P., Ameca, E.I., Oppel, S., Ramírez, I., Lawson, B., Lehikoinen, A., Bowgen, K.M. and Taylor, N.G. (2022). Linking climate change vulnerability research and evidence on conservation action effectiveness to safeguard European seabird populations. Journal of Applied Ecology, 59(5), pp.1178-1186.
Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). (2020). IEMA Environmental Impact Assessment Guide to Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation. Available at: https://www.iema.net/resources/reading-room/2020/06/26/iema-eia-guide-to-climate-change-resilience-and-adaptation-2020 Accessed on: 30 June 2022.
Johnston, D.T., Humphreys, E.M., Davies, J.G. and Pearce-Higgins, J.W. (2021). Review of climate change mechanisms affecting seabirds within the INTERREG VA area. Report to Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and Marine Scotland Science as part of the Marine Protected Area Management and Monitoring (MarPAMM) project.
Kogure, Y., Sato, K., Watanuki, Y., Wanless, S. and Daunt, F. (2016). European shags optimize their flight behavior according to wind conditions. Journal of Experimental Biology, 219, pp.311-318.
Mallory, M.L., Gaston, A.J. and Gilchrist, H.G. (2009). Sources of breeding season mortality in Canadian Arctic seabirds. Arctic, pp.333-341.
Marine Scotland. (2020). Seabirds. Available at: https://marine.gov.scot/sma/assessment/seabirds-0. Accessed on: 20 August 2022.
Mitchell, I., Daunt, F., Frederiksen, M. and Wade, K. (2020). Impacts of climate change on seabirds, relevant to the coastal and marine environment around the UK. MCCIP Science Review 2020, pp.382-399
Newell, M., Harris, M. P., Daunt, F., Watts, E., Quinn, L. and Wanless, S. (2013). Isle of May seabird studies in 2007. JNCC Peterborough, JNCC Report No. 475c.
Oswald, S.A. and Arnold, J.M. (2012). Direct impacts of climatic warming on heat stress in endothermic species: seabirds as bioindicators of changing thermoregulatory constraints. Integrative Zoology, 7(2), pp.121-136.
Oswald, S.A., Bearhop, S., Furness, R.W., Huntley, B. and Hmer, K.C. (2008). Heat stress in a high-latitude seabird: effects of temperature and food supply on bathing and nest attendance of great skuas Catharacta skua. Journal of Avian Biology, 39(2), pp.163-169.
Ratcliffe, N., Schmitt, S., Mayo, A., Tratalos, J. and Drewitt, A. (2008). Colony habitat selection by little terms Sternula albifrons in East Anglia: implications for coastal management. Seabird, 21, pp.55-63.
Schaft, H.A., Whelan, S. and Elliott, K.H. (2019). Huffin and puffin: seabirds use large bills to dissipate heat from energetically demanding flight. Journal of Experimental Biology, 222(21), jeb212563.
[1] Migratory cues are environmental factors that trigger migration, such as day length or temperature changes.