Scottish Environmental Charities Launch Urgent Bid for an Environment Act for Scotland
Pictured
Scottish Environment LINK members call for an urgent Environment Act for Scotland at The Scottish Parliament today.
Scottish Environment LINK, a coalition of Scotland’s leading environmental charities will today launch an urgent campaign, “Fight for Scotland’s Nature” at the Scottish Parliament. Together they will call for Scotland to have its own environment act.
Fears sparked by Brexit as well as mounting evidence of the global ecological crisis also heavily impacting Scotland has prompted the charities to join forces and urge the Scottish Government to commit to a dedicated Environment Act for Scotland that protects and enhances Scotland’s nature, now and in the future.
80% of all Scotland’s environmental laws come from the EU. The combination of strong legislation and support for effective implementation has made these laws among the most effective on Earth. Further, Scotland’s nature has been a net beneficiary of the EU’s LIFE Nature fund which alone has supported conservation projects worth well over 25 million Euros to date.
If and when Brexit happens, Scotland (along with the rest of the UK) will lose the unrivalled support and enforcement roles of the European Commission, European Court of Justice and other EU bodies. Alarmingly, with only a few months to go, there is uncertainty about what will replace this.
This is why Scottish Environment LINK is pushing the Scottish Government to fight for Scotland’s nature and commit to a world class environment act before it’s too late. Ahead of global 2020 targets on halting biodiversity loss, it is important that Scotland sends a clear message to the world that our environmental protections are not up for grab.
Joined up legislation in the form of a Scottish Environment Act, that is fit for purpose and caters to Scotland’s unique environmental needs is required for this to be meaningful.
Scotland may be small but its natural environment is of world importance. It has 60% of the UK’s seas and 10% of Europe’s coastline. It is home to a staggering one third of all of Europe’s breeding seabirds and 29% of Europe’s seals. Its coral reefs, thought to be around 4,000 years old, support an incredible array of life, including fish, sharks and invertebrates. As for peatlands, Scotland has 5% of the world’s share, which stores 25 times more carbon than all the vegetation of the UK.
Charles Dundas Chair of Scottish Environment LINK said: “Our environment is important not just in terms of its natural and cultural wealth. It is our life support system and we rely on it for food, clean water and air and jobs – 14% of which exist as a result of our nature.
“But this is all under threat. Every day brings new evidence of the global ecological crisis that is underway. Even here in Scotland, with 1 in 11 species currently at risk of extinction, the effects of climate change and ecosystem collapse are apparent. The legal framework of protections and associated funding that we currently receive from the EU have been pivotal in holding back the tide of further biodiversity declines.”
Scottish Environment LINK is stressing the importance of Scotland continuing to develop protections in line with internationally recognised EU environmental principles that have been crucial in safeguarding Scotland’s nature and enabling it to thrive. It also warns of the dangers of inadequate support and funding to effectively implement laws. Further, it is pushing for clear environmental targets supported by long-term actions and funding to mitigate climate change, create robust ecosystems and ensure sustainable use of our natural resources that is good for us and our land and seas.
Joyce McMillan, President of Scottish Environment LINK said: “As guardians of our amazing environment, we have a duty to ensure future environmental legislation is not tokenistic. It must be upheld through an independent and well-resourced watchdog.
“Now more than ever, we need a Scottish Environment Act that builds on existing Scottish Government commitments to retain EU protections. This would send a clear message to UK and EU partners as well as the rest of the world that we are serious about protecting and enhancing our natural environment. We live in a time of increasing environmental crisis and degradation, and it is vital that Scotland remains a dynamic part of the movement towards a more sustainable future, both for our own sake, and as a reflection of our commitment to wider international efforts to protect and cherish the natural world on which we all depend.”
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For media enquiries and interview requests please contact: Azra Wyart at: mediaandeventsscotland@gmail.com or call: 07788437819.
Notes to Editors (s)
(1) Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland’s voluntary environment community, with over 35 member bodies representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society.
LINK is a Scottish Charity (SC000296) and a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee (SC250899). LINK is core funded by Membership Subscriptions and by grants from Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government and Charitable Trusts.
www.scotlink.org
www.savescottishseas.org
2) ‘For more information about Scottish Environment LINK’s, Fight for Scotland’s Nature Campaign visit www.fightforscotlandsnature.scot
(3) Scottish Environment LINK members wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham to ask her to support a Scottish Environment Act. The letter is available here: www.fightforscotlandsnature.scot.
Photograph by Martin Shields
Tel 07572 457000
www.martinshields.com
© Martin Shields
Scottish Environment LINK, a coalition of Scotland’s leading environmental charities has today launched an urgent campaign, “Fight for Scotland’s Nature”, for Scotland to have its own environment act.
Scotland may be small, but our natural environment is mighty and of global importance.
From the iconic Scots pine of the Caledonian Forest, home to rare species such as the capercaillie, the red squirrel, the pine marten and Scottish wildcat, to the stunning wild flowers of the machair, Scotland’s nature is amazing and something we should be rightly proud of.
Scotland’s breathtaking landscapes contain internationally important habitats. For example, Scotland has 5% of the world’s peatlands and the highest percentage of peatland cover anywhere in Europe, storing 25 times more carbon than all the UK’s vegetation. Often overlooked, peatlands are also a vital resource for native and migrating birds who depend on them to rest and feed – a reminder of the importance of ensuring well cared for natural areas.
It’s not just on land we can see the abundance of life – our marine area accounts for a staggering 60% of UK’s seas and 10% of Europe’s coastline. We are home to one third of all of Europe’s breeding seabirds and 29% of Europe’s seals. Our coral reefs, thought to be around 4,000 years old, support an incredible array of life, including fish, sharks and invertebrates.
Our health and wellbeing rely on a thriving environment that provides us with food and clean water and air. It also delivers economic benefits with 14% of jobs in Scotland supported by our nature.
Sadly, this life supporting system with all its beauty and diversity is in trouble. Historical land use change has led to habitat loss and species declines, making Scottish nature less resilient to the unprecedented environmental pressures we see today. Every day brings new evidence of the global ecological crisis that is underway. The effects of climate change and ecosystem collapse are on our doorstep even here in Scotland – just think back to the Beast from the East in the winter, all the severe storms we have witnessed and the summer droughts.
With around 80% of all our environmental laws in Scotland coming from the EU, it is clear how indispensable this legislation is for the protection of our environment. The legal framework of protections and associated funding that we currently receive from the EU have been pivotal in holding back the tide of further biodiversity declines.
The combination of strong legislation and support for effective implementation has made these environmental laws among the most effective on Earth. Brexit threatens to unravel this set of critically important backing at a time when 1 in 11 species in Scotland is at risk of extinction.
This is why Scotland’s leading environmental charities are calling for a new environmental law, a Scottish Environment Act, that is fit for purpose and able to cater to Scotland’s unique environmental needs.
Scotland needs to continue to develop environmental protections on the basis of the internationally recognised EU environmental principles and have an independent and well-resourced watchdog to ensure environmental legislation is upheld.
Clear targets for environmental ambitions supported by long-term actions and funding to mitigate climate change, create robust ecosystems and push for sustainable use of our natural resources that is good for us and our land and seas are also required.
Strong legislation, in the form of a Scottish Environment Act that builds on existing Scottish Government commitments to retain EU protections would achieve this. It would send a clear message to both EU partners and the world of our unwavering commitment to protecting and enhancing our natural environment. Such a statement would be all the more potent as we approach 2020, a year critical for the culmination of global efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
Along the words of leading French philosopher Michel Serre, in Scotland too, we must reconsider our relationship with nature and “sign our natural contract” with the planet to bring harmony and mutual respect to the very thing that sustains life.
The trick is to do this before it’s too late. It’s time for us all to fight for Scotland’s nature.
Charles Dundas of Woodland Trust Scotland and Chair of Scottish Environment LINK.