The Story of Highland Adapts

In 2017, the Highland Council’s Climate Change and Energy Team Manager Keith Masson (now Head of Net Zero Transition at Highlands and Islands Enterprise) proposed the concept of a climate resilience partnership for Highland region. Over the next four years, Keith secured support across the region. The premise was simple: the challenge of building climate resilience was too great to tackle alone and necessitated a collective approach.

Nine organisations joined as founding partners: Changeworks, Forestry and Land Scotland, Highlands and Islands Climate Hub, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NatureScot, NHS Highland, The Highland Council, Verture, and Zero Waste Scotland. Kate Lackie of the Highland Council was elected Chair of the Board of Highland Adapts.

The first partnership manager, Emma Whitham, was hired. Emma worked with the partner organisations to develop the partnerships objectives, guiding principles, and partnership structure. Insights from this process helped assess what was feasible for the partnership, how it could develop, and what the priorities of potential partners were.

Highland Adapts was officially launched in September during Scotland’s Climate Week. The newly established partnership was showcased during COP26 in Glasgow.

With support from Highland Council Climate Change Coordinator Katie Andrews, Highland Adapts co-hosted the First Highland Climate Festival with the Highlands and Islands Climate Hub. The festival brought together community groups, organisations, and individuals to raise awareness and inspire action on climate change.

During the festival, the Highland Climate Charter was launched, encouraging individuals, community groups, and businesses to commit to climate action. By signing the charter, participants pledged to reduce their environmental impacts and collaborate on building climate resilience across the region.

Highland Adapts launched the Highland Weather & Climate Story Map in March, which allowed people from across the region to share their experiences of climate impacts, helping to inform future adaptation strategies.

Highland Adapts’ new member of staff, Harper Loonsk, designed and delivered climate change adaptation, nature, and circular economy lessons for schools in Invergordon as part of the Climate Action Towns project.

In May, Emma Whitham left Highland Adapts, and Harper Loonsk stepped into her role as the lead staff member for the partnership. This year also marked the end of Chloe Sinclair’s graduate traineeship with Highland Adapts through the Highland Council. Alice Tirbooman joined Highland Adapts as part of her graduate position with partner Changeworks. Helen Lavery was elected as the new Chair of the Board.

Highland Adapts convened workshops with representatives from key sectors (forestry and timber, food and drink, and energy) to gather sector-specific insights on the current and future climate impacts and ongoing adaptation strategies.

Highland Adapts, in collaboration with the Highland Environment Forum, Highlands and Islands Climate Hub, and the Highland Green Health Partnership, relaunched the Highland Climate Charter as the Highland Charter for Climate, Nature, and Health. The expanded charter places greater emphasis on integrating climate action, nature conservation, and public health.

Highland Adapts published its Economic Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on the Highland Region, the first of its kind for the Highlands. This report outlined the economic risks and opportunities that climate change presents to the region as a whole and to three key sectors: forestry and timber, energy, and food and drink. The findings were a call to action for stakeholders to prioritise both climate mitigation and adaptation.

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029. Highland Adapts was recognised as a key regional partner in this national effort, leading the way on collaboration and adaptation strategies for the Highland region.

At the start of the year, Highland Adapts focussed on advancing the partnership through reflection and strategic planning. A future planning workshop in February brought together regional organisations and businesses to discuss governance and funding for the partnership’s next phase. Alice Tirbooman’s Graduate Trainee position ended. Savanna Hirth joined the partnership for a three month internship during which she conducted an evaluation of the partnerships, providing actionable recommendations for enhancing the partnership’s future impact while capitalising on its established strengths.

In April, Highland Adapts published new research on leveraging circular economy practices for climate resilience. The partnership continued to work towards the completion of the first Highland Climate Risk and Opportunity Assessment (HCCROA). This culminated in the HCCROA scoring workshop in December.

Helen Lavery stepped down as Chair of the Board and Keith Masson was elected as Chair.

In March, Highland Adapts published the Highland Climate Change Risk & Opportunity Assessment (HCCROA). This landmark publication was a significant milestone for the partnership, and for the Highland region. For the first time, scientific data, economic analysis, regional expertise, and lived experience were combined to establish a shared understanding of where climate change is already having an impact, where risks are expected to increase, and where timely action can influence future outcomes. The HCCROA provides an evidence-based picture of climate risks and opportunities on which individual, community, and organisational interpretation, planning, and action can be built.

Following the publication of the assessment, Highland Adapts is focussing on supporting partners to align their strategies and plans with HCCROA findings, supporting practical adaptation actions, and identifying new organisations and businesses to join the partnership. These ambitions are outlined in greater detail in the Highland Adapts Partnership Strategy (April 2026 to March 2027), which was launched in June.