Our work and the climate and nature crises

The global climate and nature crises affect every aspect of our lives. Pointing the Way to the Future recognises that all our work is part of our response to these crises.

From buildings that are our homes and workplaces, to places we visit to explore, to relax and to mark important moments. The historic environment is fundamental to every place in Scotland, and it’s impossible to separate from the rest of our environment.

As lead public body for the historic environment in Scotland, we have a role and responsibility in Scotland’s climate response. The decisions we make about the historic environment are part of that response.

The statement Pointing the Way to the Future explains how our regulatory role intersects with our response to the global climate and nature crises.

We also want Pointing the Way to the Future to be the start of a conversation.

We have identified actions as a first step, with the intention to work with stakeholders and listen to the public to identify smaller scale tasks too.

We will:

• engage with people and communities, ask them what their priorities are, and use their answers to inform national historic environment policy
• understand the impact of our regulatory work on the climate and nature crises, and report on this annually
• influence policy and strategy across Scotland, to make sure that the historic environment is at the heart of our response to the climate and nature crises
• share and celebrate the best work we see in nature conservation and climate adaptation and mitigation – through case studies, newsletters and social media
• review our guidance on good decision-making in the historic environment, responding to our changing world and priorities

Want to find out more about our regulatory role?

Our Regulatory Framework is a helpful tool for anyone who engages with the services HES provide or wants to understand more about the decisions we take and the advice we give to manage change.

The key purposes of our regulatory and advisory role are: 

• to protect and seek positive change for the historic environment
• to demonstrate how the historic environment can make a real difference to people’s lives: to our health, to our economy, to our culture, to our environment, and,
• above all, we want to empower communities and enable good decisions. 

 

How else is HES taking action on climate change?

Our historic environment has unique potential to inspire climate action. You can find out more on how climate change affects the historic environment and what we’re doing to help limit the impact on our Climate Change page