The Trust has welcomed the publication of the Scottish Government’s Environment Strategy and the announcement that a new independent watchdog will be created to ensure environmental standards are maintained after Scotland leaves the European Union.

Our Chief Executive Jo Pike said: “The Scottish Government’s Environment Strategy rightly underlines that the climate emergency and the crisis facing nature are intrinsically linked. Nature is our life-support system. Limiting climate change and reversing biodiversity loss are vital, not just for our natural environment, but for Scotland’s economy and our health and wellbeing.

“To address the urgency of the crisis facing nature it is imperative that the Scottish Government’s aspirations are now turned into real action on the ground. This must start with an updated climate change plan that focuses on delivering nature-based solutions to climate change. These solutions include protecting and restoring our peatlands, native woodlands and kelp forests.

“To address the urgency of the crisis facing nature it is imperative that the Scottish Government’s aspirations are now turned into real action on the ground.”

Jo Pike

“We strongly welcome the Government’s proposals to write important EU environmental principles into Scots law and create a dedicated public scrutiny body that ensures the high environmental standards that we currently enjoy are maintained.

“This new watchdog must be truly independent, and be given the power and resources to hold this and successive governments to account on their commitments to tackling the long-term challenges facing nature. Crucially, it should have the power to access and publish any information it deems to be in the public interest.

“We look forward to seeing more detail and engaging with the Scottish Government as the Continuity Bill progresses through Parliament, to ensure that it delivers for nature.”

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