Policy Briefs

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Large rocks off the coast one with a lighthouse

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UHI Shetland's policy brief series present key results of marine science research being carried out at UHI Shetland. The following policy briefs relate to research being undertaken in the Marine Spatial Planning Section.

Just transition to net zero: creating a transition process that fully accounts for social justice content

Just transition to net zero: creating a transition process that fully accounts for social justice

Just transition to net zero: creating a transition process that fully accounts for social justice

Policy Brief 1 Social Justice (pdf)

The briefing presents opportunities for justice to be achieved across the 3 justice principles (distributional, procedural and recognitional justice) and highlights the need for an improved transition process from fossil fuels to marine renewable energy.

Improvements in just transition processes will support fairer and less contested outcomes. This is relevant to wider management challenges, marine and land processes, and areas of policy development.

It it based on the following research undertaken at UHI Shetland.

  • Withouck, I. (2022). The siting of renewable energy developments in a crowded marine space. UHI, PhD Thesis.
  • Withouck, I., Tett, P., Doran, J., Mouat, B and Shucksmith, R. (2023) Diving into just transition: How fisheries considered during the emergence of renewable energy production in Scottish waters. Energy Research and Social Science, 101, 103135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103135

offshore wind turbines with large vessels

Towards Net Zero: The role of marine habitats content

Towards Net Zero: The role of marine habitats

Towards Net Zero: The role of marine habitats

Mapping Blue Carbon Policy Brief (PDF)

The briefing presents the role of blue carbon and marine habitats in contributing to net zero objectives. It emphasises the importance of comprehensive mapping and modelling techniques to ensure the effective protection, potential restoration, and accurate quantification of carbon sequestration within these habitats.

It is based on the following research undertaken at UHI Shetland.

Pathways for carbon capture and storage by Shetland’s blue carbon habitats

A diagram showing sources of blue carbon within the marine environment

A Shetland seagrass meadowUnderwater seagrass meadow

Contact Us content

Contact Us

Marine Spatial Planning Section
Shetland UHI Scalloway Campus
Port Arthur
Scalloway
Shetland
ZE1 0UN