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There are two principal types of carbon in marine carbon habitats: organic carbon (can be digested by microbes and hence converted back to CO ₂ - approximately 15%), and inorganic carbon (microbially indigestible and chemically stable shell and coral - approximately 85%).

Estimates of carbon stored in the marine environment have large uncertainties due to incomplete mapping of habitats, sparse direct measurements and assumptions used in predictive modelling. The uncertainties result in estimated values being updated as new data becomes available meaning there are no definitive values, only best current estimates.

The current best estimate of carbon stored in Scotland’s marine environment is 5,616,100,000 tonnes CO ₂ -eq..

Details are set out in the following table:

Current estimates of carbon stored / sequestered in Scotland’s marine environment

Notwithstanding NHS Lanarkshire’s staffing levels are at a record high, with 33% growth under the SNP government compared to 22.1% across NHSScotland, we are providing continued assistance by investing in domestic labour supply, international recruitment, training, and retention.

That is why we have a £600 million package of measures that will get us through the winter, which includes hiring up to 750 nurses, midwives and allied health professionals from overseas and 250 additional support staff across acute, primary care and mental health.

Over the last 10 years we have doubled the number of funded places for Nursing and Midwifery to a target intake in 2022-23 of 4,837. Scotland already trains more doctors per head than elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and we’re working to increase Scotland’s medical undergraduate intake by 500 by the end of the parliament.

The UK Climate Change Committee briefing on blue carbon, published in March 2022, recognised the challenges in estimating the climate change impact of fishing through disturbance to sea floor sediments and the current, significant, evidence gaps. The briefing concluded that fundamental scientific uncertainties currently prevent accurate quantification of this effect. This has been an area of focus for the Scottish Blue Carbon Forum since its establishment in 2018 and we continue to invest in research, through the Forum, to improve scientific approaches, fill key evidence gaps and understand the implications of this interaction.

Many of the habitats research has identified as important for blue carbon are priority marine features within Scotland’s Marine Protected Area network. Blue carbon will also be one of the search criteria for designation of Scotland’s Highly Protected Marine Areas, in 2026, affording the opportunity for enhanced protection.

The report of analysis of responses to the consultation draft National Planning Framework 4 was published on 8 November 2022 and is available from the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/draft-fourth-national-planning-framework-analysis-responses-consultation-exercise-analysis-report/ .

This year’s winter vaccination programme has enjoyed very high uptake to date. According to the latest data, 87.8% of older adult care home residents, and 83.0% of those aged 65 and over, have received a winter COVID-19 vaccination.

Nevertheless, we are continually exploring ways to build on these very promising levels of uptake. We have undertaken a range of national communications and engagement activity to further encourage uptake, as well as supporting Health Boards and other partners with local activity.

We have embedded inclusivity as a key aspect of the vaccination programme from its outset, working alongside health boards and other partners to encourage uptake, remove barriers and respond to evidence of low uptake in certain communities, including those from more deprived areas.

There is capacity right across Scotland to get vaccinated, and I would encourage all those eligible for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations this winter to come forward.

We recognise the importance of engagement in developing the Climate Change Plan. We are planning for engagement with stakeholders in 2023. This is in advance of the draft Climate Change Plan being laid by the end of 2023 – for a period of at least 120 days of scrutiny - and a public consultation which will commence at the same time. In addition, we will publish an engagement report alongside the new draft Climate Change Plan to 2040 to provide detail around this engagement.

The Scottish Government’s Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change - Climate change - Net Zero Nation: public engagement strategy - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) - sets out the importance of widespread participation and engagement in addressing the climate emergency.

Achieving our emissions reduction targets requires a societal transformation that goes beyond incremental behaviour change. There are currently 29 research projects being managed through ClimateXChange, totalling £1.2million. Many of these will inform our approach to the Climate Change Plan, including a project to identify points of intervention with the potential to influence multiple, interlinked social practices.

As required by the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, the Climate Change Plan will set out proposals and policies regarding the exploitation of fossil fuels.

In addition to setting out those proposals and policies, I intend for the Plan to set out the actions required by the UK Government on reserved matters in order for Scotland to meet its emissions reduction targets.

The Financial Memorandum set out the range of possible costs for the NCS.

The NCS is being developed through a Co-Design approach. We are starting to work with the Lived Experience Experts Panel on larger scale co-design, and will continue to work with a range of organisations and individuals alongside the panel.

We will design and develop the NCS with the real experts, those who rely on social care, unpaid carers and the workforce.

The finances are being constantly monitored and reviewed as new information becomes available. Through the business case process we will continue to provide greater detail and clarity.

The next Climate Change Plan must include proposals and policies for the following sectors:

• energy supply,
• transport (including international aviation and shipping),
• business and industrial process,
• residential and public (in relation to buildings in those sectors),
• waste management,
• land use, land use change and forestry, and
• agriculture.

We are considering other policies, proposals and actions that could be included in the Plan that are not included in the inventory, such as marine carbon.

As required by the Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act 2019, the Climate Change Plan will set out proposals and policies for supporting, including by the sharing of expertise and technology, action in developing countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and adapt to the effects of climate change.

With regards to intra-UK diplomacy, Scottish Government officials are engaged in regular meetings with counterparts in the UK Government and the other devolved administrations, and we repeatedly promote joint collaboration in areas that will be essential to delivering net zero. The next Climate Change Plan will set out where action will be needed by the UK Government to reduce emissions within reserved areas in order for Scotland to meet its emissions reduction targets.