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New laws needed to stop post-Brexit nature loss in Scotland

Emily Macintosh

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.” Ends 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

One in 11 species in Scotland is at risk of extinction – and environmental campaigners fear Brexit could exacerbate nature loss by leading to an unraveling of the critical environmental protections currently locked into Scottish law by way of EU membership. Now the Scottish government is under pressure to ramp up post-Brexit environmental protections with new laws.

Scotland’s natural environment is renowned for not only being stunningly beautiful but also for being home to globally important habitats and wildlife, with 5% of the world’s peatlands, a third of the EU’s breeding seabirds, and 90% of the UK’s surface freshwater.

But with 80% of Scottish environmental protections stemming from EU legislation and Brexit looming, over 5200 people have signed a petition calling for a Scottish Environment Act to embed EU and international environmental principles into Scots law.

The petition is part of the ‘Fight for Scotland’s Nature’ campaign set up by Scottish Environment Link – a coalition of 35 Scottish environmental charities – to encourage participation in the Scottish government’s ongoing consultation on ‘environmental principles and governance’ which runs until 11 May.

The Scottish government has made a commitment “to maintain or exceed EU environmental standards” and to “keep pace” with EU protections.

But Charles Dundas, Chair of Scottish Environment LINK, said there was an urgent need to honour these commitments with “new concrete proposals to protect our right to a healthy environment” that “lock in and build on the full spectrum of EU protections”.

Dundas said:

“Through the Scottish Government’s consultation, we have the opportunity to take heed of the dangers affecting our natural environment and to push for a world-class Scottish Environment Act. Only when we have that commitment do we have a fighting chance of preventing further environmental degradation and unprecedented levels of species decline.”

The campaign also calls for an independent and well-resourced watchdog to enforce environmental protections – given that if and when Scotland and the rest of the UK leave the EU they will wave goodbye to the oversight and enforcement roles of the European Commission and the European Court of Justice.

Jeremy Wates, Secretary General of the European Environmental Bureau, said:

“Environmental issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change and air pollution don’t stop at borders. Whatever the outcome of the Brexit discussions, Europe’s environmental organisations want to see high standards for the environment, and for citizens’ rights on environmental matters, maintained across Scotland, the rest of the UK, and the EU. Scottish Government commitments are welcome but now is time for real action.”

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