Scottish Parliament - Planning for business continuity
Case Study On-goingDate added: 10/05/2019
Victoria Barby is the Environment Performance Manager with the Scottish Parliament. A business continuity approach to adaptation is being used to ensure that the Scottish Parliament is a safe and functional space for lawmaking, even during extreme weather.
‘One of our major challenges is how to keep Parliament safe
and functional, and adaptation will increasingly be a factor in planning for
this. A Climate Impact Assessment Workshop
in 2016 found that the Parliament building is already quite resilient to
climate impacts. However, the logistics of getting staff and Members to the building,
as well as ensuring that local offices are climate resilient, is a challenge.
A recommendation from the Impact Assessment Workshop was to
track climate related disruption at the Scottish Parliament. This, along with
progress on climate change adaptation is now reported at the Environment
Strategy Board meetings. Regular reporting helps build a case for investing in
adaptation that aligns with wider priorities, and helps us develop long term
adaptation actions.
During the 2018 summer heatwave, the Parliament building was
at risk of overheating. As a result, I am now working with the Business
Continuity Team to develop a long term, strategic approach to climate
adaptation, informed by the climate impacts already captured in our reporting
processes. To fully consider how future climate change may threaten business
continuity at Scottish Parliament, we are planning to undertake a risk
assessment. This will be used to develop an Adaptation Plan and supporting processes
that will ensure the Parliament is climate ready, and able to continue
operating safely throughout extreme weather events.
We are considering a range of actions, including options
like remote working and using technology to support flexible workplace
practices to maintain functionality of Parliament throughout extreme weather
events. While some core staff are needed on the premises of Parliament to
ensure the safe and effective running of the building, flexible working options
can reduce the strain on Edinburgh’s public transport system during extreme
weather events, ensuring that core facilities staff are able to travel to work.
Taking a business continuity approach to planning adaptation actions is helping us to think practically about how climate change may impact our ability to function, and develop short and long term adaptation actions that will ensure the Scottish Parliament is able to operate during extreme weather events.’