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SEPA’s research strategy:

SEPA’s research strategy:

•defines our aims, needs and interests in research and development; •provides an overview of the principles that we will apply in fulfilling these requirements; •focuses on key themes and priorities for our research activity over the next four years.

The strategy will facilitate links between SEPA and the external research community. It is intended to help anticipate and drive change, provide evidence for and promote implementation of measures to achieve desired outcomes and enhance SEPA’s reputation as Scotland’s environmental champion.

2 Our research needs

As an agency established to protect and enhance the environment and protect human health, it is essential that SEPA has a sound science and knowledge base. This helps us to deliver best value practices in the exercise of our powers and duties and to inform the development of effective policies that contribute to better regulation and the Scottish Government’s goal of sustainable economic growth. SEPA’s mandate for research and development activity, as required by our founding legislation, is detailed in Annex 1.

Research – the discovery of fundamental new knowledge and understanding.

Development – the process by which new knowledge and understanding is applied.

We need to continually improve our understanding and our decision-making processes, responses and interventions to ensure sustainable management of Scotland’s environmental capacity and the wealth of benefits that a healthy and productive environment provides, including economic and social well-being.

We need to inform and advise a range of stakeholders with varied and sometimes conflicting interests on environmental and human health risks, uncertainties, options and consequences.

To meet these needs we have to develop tools and techniques to help assess and predict environmental change, risks and impacts. We have to foster a culture of innovation and effective knowledge exchange, to be proactive in influencing policy and to integrate a wide range of socio-economic considerations such as land-use, business needs etc., into our core activities of environmental science and regulation.

Therefore, SEPA’s research and development needs to span a broad spectrum, from investigative and interpretive science to the development of innovative tools and techniques. To ensure best value in delivery of our needs, we have to engage in a wide range of research activities, from direct commissioning and in-house delivery to collaboration with, and learning from, others, both within the research community and across regulated industry and the public sector.

3Our research aims

SEPA’s research and development aims are:

•to improve monitoring, analysis and assessment of environmental processes, signals, interactions and dependencies, existing and future pressures on and risks to the environment and human health; •to develop innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulation; •to improve understanding and help influence values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health.

SEPA needs to be at the forefront of predicting and responding effectively and timeously to environmental change and the challenges brought about by social and economic drivers. To achieve this we must have a framework in place that helps organise and channel our research activity to ensure targeted formulation and prioritisation of research needs. Our research programmes should result in the delivery and adoption of meaningful outputs that help realise the desired outcomes and benefits, especially the Scottish Government’s aims of sustainable economic growth and a ‘greener’ Scotland.

Research and innovation are at the hub of this framework and help inform and are driven by three cornerstones (see Fig. 1):

•futures assessment, including predictive processes such as horizon scanning, scenario planning and identification of emerging issues;

•improved monitoring and interpretation, e.g. innovative tools and techniques, new modelling methodologies, integrated assessment of environmental processes and adoption of emerging science to assist and stimulate smarter analysis etc;

•better regulation and policy e.g. regulation that responds to a changing environment and that helps inform and influence policy in response to dynamic socio-economic conditions.

SEPA works with the private and public sectors on horizon scanning and scenario planning to help ensure that we can predict and develop timely responses to new challenges and opportunities. This activity informs and is informed by our needs for environmental information and the development of new techniques and technologies for environmental monitoring and assessment. Improved understanding of the environment helps inform better regulation and policy development and drives innovation.

Figure 1: Cornerstones of SEPA’s research framework

4What is the scope of our strategy?

The strategy provides an overview of the major issues facing Scotland’s environment and the consequences for human health. It sets the context for SEPA’s research and development needs and identifies research and development priorities for SEPA for the period 2008–2012.

The strategy defines themes that reflect SEPA’s corporate priorities and environmental outcomes and that align with priorities identified within SEPA’s planning horizons, state of the environment reports and emerging issues activities.

Delivery of the strategy, including governance, collaboration and knowledge exchange are discussed below. The principles of sustainable development and better regulation are implicit throughout.



5 How will we deliver our strategy? 5.1 Governance The strategy will form a focus for SEPA’s corporate annual research programmes during the period 2008–2012. Bids for funding and opportunities for academic sponsorship will be assessed against the priorities identified by the strategy. As we have previously adopted a bottom-up approach to building our annual research programme, we do not intend to restrict funding solely to strategic priorities. Where a good case can be made to justify expenditure in another area, it will be considered in light of any evolving issues. SEPA will conduct a mid-term review of the strategy in liaison with other key agencies and partners to ensure that it maintains relevance and capacity to respond to changing priorities.

Specific SEPA cross-directorate working groups and lead champions will take responsibility for the identification and development of programmes aligned with each strategic theme.

Each programme will include:

•demonstration of business value; •phased delivery and implementation proposals; •audit and performance review measures.

Each annual programme will be formulated as a coherent business case for consideration by SEPA’s Research Advisory Panel. Satisfactory progress (research needs identification, research management, and uptake and outcomes) will be reviewed on an annual basis by the panel.

5.2 Collaboration Although we fund research directly, this constitutes a relatively small programme of work and we are keen to ensure best value and optimal benefits in the delivery of this and our wider research activities. SEPA recognises a wealth of common interests across significant areas of the environment-related research agenda for the academic and public sector research community both within Scotland and across the rest of the UK and Europe. We seek to gain added value by research collaboration and networking to influence the public research agenda and exchange knowledge and outputs. This strategy serves as a tool to communicate SEPA’s research and development focus and priorities for the next four years to all interested parties, and we hope that it will foster close collaboration and improved knowledge exchange with interested parties.

Significant common interests arise with the other UK environmental regulators; the Environment Agency for England and Wales and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency . SEPA collaborates with both organisations in the Environmental Research Programme, which is co-ordinated by the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). The three agencies also garner other opportunities for joint-collaboration and knowledge exchange on their respective research agenda, programmes and outputs. SEPA will continue to support this cross-agency approach and identify other means of improving communications and our effectiveness.

SEPA contributes to the Scottish Government’s strategic environmental research initiatives, including current programmes on the environment – land use and rural stewardship and on impacts on human health. SEPA, along with all the Scottish Government’s rural and environmental delivery partners, is part of a project team that is taking forward a ‘science framework’ which will assist in the development of the Scottish Government’s next environmental research strategy.

SEPA is a member of the Scottish Government’s Environmental Research Funders’ Liaison Group (ERFLG), which brings together key environment agencies within Scotland including Scottish Natural Heritage, the Forestry Commission Scotland, the Scottish Government and its main environment-related research providers . The ERFLG helps to promote collaborative programmes of work for the key environment agencies across Scotland.

SEPA is a partner to both the Environmental Research Funders’ Forum (ERFF) and the Living with Environmental Change Partnership (LWEC) . These fora enable SEPA to:

•engage with the wider UK and European research agendas; •influence national and international research initiatives that will improve the evidence base for policy development and future regulatory needs; •bring added value to SEPA’s research activities and funding •raise awareness of environmental protection and improvement issues across the wider research community both at home and internationally.

The final point is becoming increasingly important, given the global nature of environmental issues and impacts which have implications for Scotland’s environment and socio-economic development.

5.3Knowledge exchange SEPA will make publicly available thematic programmes, all relevant outputs (subject to contractual/confidentiality/Intellectual Property Rights constraints) and will publish a periodic review of research and development including highlights and lessons-learned.

We will publicise a series of seminars and other dissemination events and extend invitations to relevant and interested parties.

We will use all appropriate fora including conferences, media campaigns and workshops to disseminate key research outputs and findings. We will also generate improved and informed public debate and participation in future considerations of the environmental and human health research agenda.

SEPA will communicate its research priorities and mechanisms to both existing research partners and to the wider research and academic community. The objectives are to:

•help forge new opportunities for collaboration on multi-disciplinary programmes; •avoid duplication; •identify key knowledge gaps; •demonstrate value for money by optimising delivery options including opportunities for collaboration.

Such delivery options include:

•promotion of themes and projects; •collaboration with partner organisations; •influencing the scope and focus of research activities and programmes of other organisations to complement or supplement SEPA research and development activities and outputs; • supporting academic or industry sponsorships, awards, placements and secondments.

6 Strategic themes

6.1Overview

SEPA’s four strategic research and development themes are:

•Human pressures on the environment •Climate change •Environment and human health •Ecological protection

An overview of the drivers, pressures and key issues is presented for each theme.

Principal categories Key knowledge gaps and needs are assigned to one of three principal categories within each theme to help prioritise future funding. Opportunities for collaboration with partner agencies, research providers, stakeholders etc are suggested for each priority, where relevant.

1. Improving scientific assessment, monitoring, analyses and interpretation.

2. Developing innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulation.

3. Enhancing understanding and influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health.

6.2Human pressures on the environment

Overview of drivers, pressures and key issues

Scotland’s environment is subject to continuous change, partially as a result of the natural forces acting upon it, but mainly influenced by human activities. Some of these changes have been very obvious, for example, sewage disposal and emissions of pollutants from industrial processes. These types of pressures have been increasingly controlled by environmental laws. Other changes and pressures are less obvious such as:

• land use change
• run-off from agricultural land leading to nutrient enrichment of surface waters,
• soil erosion
• presence of harmful chemicals at extremely low concentrations, which can lead to environmental changes (e.g. in reproductive biology of communities)
• unknown impacts due to the development of new technologies, such as nanotechnology

It is these changes, generated by human activity, that are of concern, particularly when they occur at such a rapid rate that the environment may not be able to adjust.

This is a key area of activity for SEPA and is perhaps most easily considered in subtopics, albeit inter-related. These are:

• Catchment management, diffuse pollution and soil functioning
• Energy, waste and resource management
• Hazardous chemicals

Catchment management, diffuse pollution and soils research priorities

Category Priorities Improving understanding and scientific assessment, monitoring, analysis and interpretation Differences in soil structure and biodiversity across Scotland between ecological systems

How to minimise soil carbon loss and use the ecosystem to store carbon

Soil movement and links to flooding. Impact of peat erosion on climate change

Source pathway attribution for diffuse pollution and placing within holistic setting – understanding catchment scale processes

Impacts of radiation on ecosystems

Information required to support SEPA’s regulatory regimes (e.g. assessing hydromorphological impacts upon the water environment)

Developing innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulation Impact of predicted land use change including impact of development and infrastructure change on soil systems

Coastal erosion and landslides

Diffuse pollution and the effectiveness of regulatory regimes

Promotion of sustainable flood management

Development of environmental standards to support regulation. Enhancing understanding and influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health How to maximise the uptake of environmentally supportive behaviours

Energy, waste and resource management research priorities

Category Priorities Improving understanding and scientific assessment, monitoring, analysis and interpretationImpacts of large structures in near-shore coastal waters

Improved understanding of peat systems and their hydrology

Environmental impacts of different energy technologies on landscape, biodiversity, marine systems

Development of environmental monitoring tools to support regulation and state of environment reporting.

Developing innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection, including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulationCarbon footprint of energy production and supply

Environmental and human health risks of waste treatment processes

Economic and social benefits of increasing renewable energy production

Full life cycle costing – taking account of technology developments and consumer demand – to understand infrastructure investment required to ensure renewable energy supply

Methodologies to determine viability of different locations for particular forms of renewable energy production

Where best to concentrate resources within the regulatory cycle to ensure maximum value is recovered from waste with minimal disposal without energy recovery

Methodologies required to support SEPA’s regulatory regimes.

Enhancing understanding and influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health How to minimise future waste growth and consumption of raw materials and efficient resource use

Hazardous chemicals research priorities

Category Priorities Improving understanding and scientific assessment, monitoring, analysis and interpretation Identifying sensitive and vulnerable communities in Scotland with respect to chemical stressors

‘Hotspots’ of chemical usage and contamination in Scotland

Accumulation of chemicals in sediments and soils following release to air, land and water and long-term legacy of contamination

Developing innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulation Key sources and pathways and critical levels of hazardous chemicals and how these relate to predominant chemical industries in Scotland (agriculture, food and drink, electronics, oil and gas, chemicals and textiles)

Knowing what are safe ‘no effect concentrations’ and what ‘environmental quality standards’ should be set

Rising environmental concentrations of a number of newly identified chemicals such as chlorinated paraffins, perfluorinated compounds and flame retardants

Subtle impacts such as food chain contamination and accumulation of persistent chemicals

How different pieces of legislation protect the environment with respect to hazardous chemicals (critical levels, implementation, synergies between different media)

How regulation needs to be changed/adapted to consider novel chemicals

Enhancing understanding and influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health How to respond to new issues that are of environmental consequence

Changing use of chemicals by the public and their release into the environment, for example from the use of cleaning agents and transport

Potential partners for this research topic on human pressures on the environment include:

- Scottish Government, the Research Councils , the Environment Agencies for England & Wales and for Northern Ireland, other Scottish and UK regulatory agencies, Local Authorities, environmental health and health protection research organisations, land use research organisations (e.g. The Macaulay Institute, Scottish Agricultural College, Centre for Ecology & Hydrology), Scottish Natural Heritage, regulated sectors, manufacturing sectors, sector-specific trade associations, Sustainable Development Research Network, Fisheries Research Services, Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, the European Commission and Non-Governmental Organisations.

6.3 Climate change

Overview of drivers, pressures and key issues Climate change is causing a wide range of impacts on Scotland, including changes in the growing, breeding and migration seasons, shifts in species abundance and diversity and changing weather patterns with the potential for more floods and droughts. Human-induced climatic change is underway and if global emissions of greenhouse gases continue at current rates, there is an increasing risk of reaching a tipping point whereby human emissions cease to be the main driver and are overtaken by emissions resulting from disturbances to natural systems. The impacts of such ‘dangerous’ climate change are potentially devastating, with consequences for human health, biodiversity, water quality and supply, agriculture and food supply, transport, coastal erosion and flooding.

Adaptation – risk assessment and management Scotland needs to incorporate climate change considerations into all aspects of risk management and assessment, and prepare for unavoidable climate change over the next few decades as a result of recent emissions. Analysis of the past century’s data shows significant changes in rainfall patterns which, if trends continue, will increase the risk of flooding and periods of summer drought, particularly in the east of Scotland. This will put pressure on sources of water for drinking, irrigation and maintenance of ecosystems.

Limited knowledge of how climate change will impact at the regional level is a major obstacle to understanding what aspects of the environment will experience greatest change in any particular part of the country. We need to understand what aspects of the environment are most sensitive to change and extreme events and where and how we can intervene to minimise threats and maximise opportunities.

We also need to understand the implications for ecological systems and environmental services, the wider socio-economic consequences and where to focus our efforts in helping Scotland to build resilience and adapt sustainably to climate change. We need higher resolution models to improve our ability to predict the impact of climate change at a national, regional and sub-regional level; the associated social and economic costs of climate change; and the vulnerability and adaptability of living systems.

Mitigation – minimising greenhouse gas emissions The majority of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland arise from the combustion of fossil fuels for heating, power and transport. SEPA regulates a significant proportion of the industries responsible for emissions and provides advice and guidance to other sectors. We need to improve understanding and methodologies for assessing and identifying beneficial interventions that minimise greenhouse gas emissions without causing other unacceptable environmental impacts; development of sufficiently rigorous carbon accounting methodologies and other decision-making tools; develop protocols and processes for dealing with uncertainty and risk assessment etc.

Scotland has significant sources of carbon locked in peat and other organic soils, representing a net sink for land-use. However, changing climate, inappropriate agricultural measures and other land-use activities could result in Scotland having a net loss of carbon from soils in the form of carbon dioxide and methane emissions to air and the leaching of carbon into the water environment giving rise to the formation of carcinogenic precursors. There are significant gaps in our understanding of how such soil processes work, the sensitivity to change and best practice in managing and securing soil carbon.

SEPA must explore and identify opportunities for reducing direct emissions of greenhouse gases from our own activities arising from transport emissions, estate management, waste management etc.

Climate change research priorities

Category Priorities Improving understanding and scientific assessment, monitoring, analyses and interpretation

Understanding the key vulnerabilities and areas of impact of climate change for Scotland

What can we learn from past climate and other countries – e.g. development of climate analogues?

Ecological, economic and environmental consequences of ocean acidification

Analysis and interpretation of historic datasets and development of indicators of change

Developing innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulationInvestigate risks of carbon capture and storage to natural environment

Use of scenario planning to build predictive capacity and impacts on environment infrastructure and economy

Develop multi-criteria assessment techniques and other ‘cost/benefit’ techniques to assist determination of environmental permits with respect to greenhouse gas emissions

Investigate options for incorporating more rigorous consideration of climate change issues into planning and strategic environmental assessments

Improve knowledge, measurement and analysis of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland

Determine SEPA’s emissions and means of reducing our impact

Develop climate change checklist for SEPA policies

Enhancing understanding and influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health Methodologies to promote behavioural change and help achieve mitigation

Adaptation responses e.g. responses to flooding, commuting and travel patterns

Tools to help small and medium-sizes enterprises (SMEs) assess and reduce their carbon footprint

Potential partners for this research topic on climate change include:

-Government and agencies; Universities and research organisations, Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs), UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), Scottish Climate Change Impacts Partnership (SCCIP), marine environmental research organisations; Scotland and UK-wide bodies including conservation agencies, water industry, other UK regulators, climate change and energy advisory bodies, Sustainable Development Research Network. 6.4 Environment and human health

Overview of key drivers and pressures

The environment affects the health and quality of life of individuals and communities throughout Scotland. The relationships between the environment and health are complex. For example, exposure to environmental pollutants (e.g. hazardous substances) can come from many different sources and be expressed through many different routes: the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and through our work and homes. Conversely, the creation of good quality green space can be particularly beneficial to the health of people and wildlife living in our urban environments.

SEPA will work, in conjunction with others, to improve its understanding of the relationships between human health and the environment and will take account of this in future environmental monitoring, assessment and regulation. SEPA welcomes the Scottish Government initiative to develop a Strategic Framework for Environment and Health and will continue to work with them in promoting a common understanding of the factors affecting health and the actions to be taken to address these.

SEPA recognises the need for improved signals and indicators for environmental reporting and will critically review its monitoring and that done by others with respect to health. Building on this, it will promote the development and delivery of a national monitoring programme which better addresses health and which provides the evidence required to influence future policy and practice on planning, redevelopment and regulation.

Issues that require a better understanding include:

•The impacts (positive and negative) of the environment on human health.

•“Environment and Human Health” signals and indicators to inform future monitoring, assessment and regulation.

•The effects of airborne pollutants on human health, particularly with respect to substances arising from transport. SEPA needs to build on a good knowledge base and better target action, particularly in relation to particulate matter.

•The identification and prioritisation of emerging pollutants where background concentrations are increasing and considered to be potentially detrimental to human health. Research should strengthen the evidence base of health effects to support the inclusion of these substances in future monitoring programmes where appropriate.

•The influence of climate change on the environment with respect to health, particularly in relation to the psychological effects of flooding.

Human health research priorities:

Category Priorities Improving understanding and scientific assessment, monitoring, analyses and interpretationDevelop a better understanding of the fate, behaviour and potential health effects of ‘novel’ substances in the environment (e.g. nano-materials and endocrine modulating substances).

Identify and prioritise pressures (e.g. emissions, activities and substances) of concern to human health in Scotland.

Develop methodology to create environmental quality standards and appropriate monitoring and assessment techniques (signals, indicators and analytical methods) to describe the state of the environment with respect to human health.

Developing innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulationDevelop models for the assessment of environmental exposure and human health risk (particularly for airborne pollutants) to identify potential problems and focus regulatory action.

Improve methods and tools for the protection of bathing waters and recreational waters, and for assessing the potential health impact of abstraction from drinking water sources.

Explore the benefit to health of environmental improvement ‘activities’ (e.g. creation and management of green space).

Enhancing understanding and influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health Develop our advisory and influencing roles, particularly with regard to sustainable development, alternative technologies, and the potential benefit to health.

Undertake socio-economic evaluation of improvements to quality of life as part of our approach to human health impact assessment.

Potential partners for this research topic on Environment and Human Health include:

- Health Protection Scotland (HPS), Scottish Government (SG), academic institutions, NHS Health Boards, Environment Agency for England and Wales, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Defra, Dept of Health, Health Protection Agency, UK Interdepartmental Steering Group, Greenspace Scotland, Sustainable Development Research Network, Sustainability through Environment, Nature, Communities and Enterprise (SENCE) partners.

6.5 Ecological protection

Overview of drivers and pressures Human impact on the environment, especially intensive land use in the last 250 years, has led to significant declines in Scotland’s ecological quality and biodiversity. In 2005 nearly 32% of habitats and 18% of species identified under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan were declining, although around 32% of habitats and 39% of species were either stable or showing signs of recovery. Impacts of climate change however, are already evident with some species ranges reducing, others extending and evidence of disruption to food chains. This means attainment of the EU target to halt loss of biodiversity by 2010 will become more challenging. Active management will be necessary to maintain many habitats and species in Scotland. The Scottish Biodiversity Strategy provides a framework for this.

Conversion of farmland and semi-natural habitats through development for housing or industrial developments results in a loss of habitats and associated species. Transport corridors can lead to fragmentation of habitats and isolation of populations of rare or threatened species.

SEPA recognizes that other organisations, such as Scottish Natural Heritage, will take a lead on many of these issues. However, in order to maintain an integrated understanding of the environment, research is required, and SEPA itself has important duties related to protecting and improving biodiversity and ecological functioning.

Focus of research and development interest at UK level It is likely that the pressures on ecosystems will increase in the future, but the rate of change and its consequence for ecosystem services and biodiversity are unclear. Understanding ecosystems’ structures and functions is a large and complex problem and we need to determine the ecological and environmental consequences of human interventions in freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems. As a consequence, we need to approach these questions in a holistic manner.

Ecological protection research priorities

Category Priorities Improving understanding and scientific assessment, monitoring, analyses and interpretation Understanding the ecological impacts of alien species on UK habitats, particularly aquatic and riparian habitats, including those species of risk to WFD status

Improving existing, and developing new, methods for monitoring and classifying the impacts of invasive, non-native species, particularly for aquatic and riparian habitats

Improved modelling and monitoring of large-scale spatial and temporal processes affecting soils, catchment and other large-scale management, and biogeochemical cycling

Development of a Scottish wetland inventory

Developing innovative and sustainable options for environmental protection including development of methods, tools and techniques that will lead to better regulationUnderstanding the processes that lead to habitat degradation, loss and fragmentation (pollution, enrichment, climate change, development, land use change, agricultural practice/policy etc)

Understanding the role of RBMP in developing ecological networks through delivery of WFD objectives, and identifying opportunities to demonstrate wider environmental benefits

Understanding the extent, nature, cost and likely impacts of responses to, or measures to address, invasive non-native species, particularly for aquatic and riparian habitats

Develop and test screening tools and regulatory decision-support mechanisms for: i) tests of likely significant effect on Natural sites and of SSSI damage, and ii)for likely impacts on biodiversity priority habitats and species

Modelling habitat restoration and improved ecological networks following adoption of more sustainable flood management practices Enhancing understanding and influencing values, attitudes, behaviours and decision-making processes that affect the environment and human health Valuing ecosystem services to allow incorporation into regulation and wider environmental decision-making

Understanding the relationships between environmental quality, the connectivity and use of greenspace and effects on health and well-being

Potential partners for this research topic on Ecological Protection include:

- Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH); Scottish Government; Scottish Working Group on Invasive Non-Native Species; Sustainability through Environment, Nature, Communities and Enterprise (SENCE) partners, Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Implementation partners, Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), Scottish Environment Link, Environment Agency for England and Wales, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Research Councils, Defra, environmental research institutions. 7 How will we assess effectiveness?

We will carry out a mid-term review of our strategy in 2010 to ensure that it remains relevant and responsive to changing needs. We will monitor delivery of outputs and development of outcomes.

A successful strategy will, over time:

•Improve our understanding of the Scottish environment, the human pressures on it and how we might better manage these pressures •Improve SEPA’s partnership working and influence on other research programmes and activities •Innovate in the means by which SEPA prioritises, commissions and promotes research outcomes, in order to deliver faster, smarter and more effective results. Annex 1 SEPA’s mandate for research and development

SEPA’s founding legislation, the Environment Act 1995, states that the Agency shall make arrangements for the carrying out of research and related activities (whether by itself or others) in respect of matters to which its functions relate.

This is reflected in SEPA’s 2005 management statement from the Scottish Government which states that one of our main objectives is: •to operate to high professional standards, based on sound science, information and analysis of the environment and of processes which affect it

and also that SEPA has a duty to:

•carry out, promote or collaborate with others on research related to its regulatory activities

and more specifically that:

•SEPA should liaise with the Environment Agency for England and Wales and with the Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service now called the Northern Ireland Environment Agency to co-ordinate research activities and to promote consistent standards of environmental protection, regulation and management. This shall not preclude the ability to pursue different approaches in Scotland where that is justified.

Thus, there is a clear mandate and requirement for SEPA to be involved in a wide range of research and development activities. SEPA has a part to play in achieving the Scottish Government’s purpose, “to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth” and on the Government’s five strategic objectives – to make Scotland wealthier and fairer; smarter; healthier; safer and stronger; and greener.

In particular, SEPA works closely with the Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate and the Environmental Quality Directorate. It is important that actions and decisions are based on best possible knowledge and understanding of science, processes, pressures, risks, values and attitudes. It is also important that SEPA develops and maintains an innovative approach to delivery to ensure best practice and value for money.

One means of achieving this evidence-based and innovative way of working is to be directly involved in a wide range of research and development activities. This will include commissioning of research either alone or in collaboration, and engaging with research and academic communities that are working on issues relevant to SEPA’s remit.