Holyrood Declaration

The Holyrood Declaration gave all Members of The Scottish Parliament an opportunity to make their own statement during Scottish Environment Week.  

You can see the statements that MSPs made below.

The plate on the inside of the Declaration read:

Acknowledging the diversity of Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage and the importance of the environment to Scotland’s society and economy, Members of the Scottish Parliament herein make the following pledges on our environment and its well being in the future.

This Declaration was signed during Scottish Environment Week in Holyrood from 7th - 13th February 2005.

The new Scottish Parliament was designed to grow out of the land of Scotland – the long green ‘tails’ of the Holyrood buildings stretching out to the volcanic landscape of the Park.

Our unique location is a daily reminder to all Members of their obligation to protect and promote our country’s precious environment.

George Reid MSP
Presiding Officer
February 2005

Sarah Boyack MSP, Edinburgh Central
I pledge to continue to play my part as a Labour MSP to make sure that we link action on the environment with social justice and economic progress. We need joined up thinking at every level of government and action from all of us.

Robin Harper MSP, Lothians
I pledge to continue getting it right for our environment – it is a duty that should be assumed by all political parties, councils, institutions of every kind. This first Environment Week serves as a reminder that we all have personal and collective responsibility for a fragile environment that absolutely must be protected and preserved for the sake of biodiversity, our children and the survival of the planet.

Mark Ruskell MSP, Mid-Scotland and Fife
I pledge to tackle the biggest threat facing humanity and our planet this century – climate change.

Shiona Baird MSP, North East Scotland
I pledge to live as lightly as I can on this planet to ensure that our grandchildren have a planet worth inheriting.

Mike Watson MSP, Glasgow Cathcart
The future is in the hands of all of us. The generations to come will know what we did to prepare for it – we must not fail them.

John Swinbourne MSP, South of Scotland
The impending Ravenscraig project in Motherwell will without doubt generate a good deal of employment but has enough attention been paid to the lack of attention paid to the cleaning up of this polluted environmentally unfriendly area

Tavish Scott MSP, Shetland
The consistent argument made by young people I encounter throughout Scotland in my Shetland constituency is the need for politicians to consider the long term. The environment is the long term perspective.

Jim Wallace MSP, Orkney
On a personal level, I commit to a renewed effort to not leave TV sets on standby. As a Minister, I commit to keep the green thread running through our policies and to encourage employment in green technologies.

Sandra White MSP, Glasgow
We owe it to future generations to look after and improve our environment. We must also ensure that the public are involved at all levels of Development and T.P.R.A should be introduced to ensure fairness to all.

John Home Robertson MSP, East Lothian
Trying to follow in the footsteps of John Muir from Dunbar!

Iain Smith MSP, North East Fife

Nora Radcliffe MSP, Gordon
Remember – it’s not what ‘they’ do – it’s what I do that will make the difference.

Marlyn Glen MSP, North East Scotland
Hoping that the Environment Week grows until it covers the whole year!

Richard Lochhead MSP, North East Scotland
Scotland’s environment is precious and irreplaceable – now we have our own Parliament to protect it!

Susan Deacon MSP, Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
We need to get it right – for the next generation.

Allan Wilson MSP, Cunninghame North
To do all in my power as an indidividual citizen and as an elected representative to promote sustainable development and help protect our natural environment for future generations to enjoy.

Tommy Sheridan MSP, Glasgow
If we don’t value our world’s natural resources and environment there will be nothing but ruins to pass to the future generations.

Rosemary Byrne MSP, South of Scotland
Environmental justice is essential. All over Scotland community groups are campaigning for justice. This highlights the need for changes to planning law.

Denis Canavan MSP, Falkirk West
Hope that Environment Week is a huge success.

Phil Gallie MSP, South of Scotland
Different age groups see the environment in varying ways – for the elderly warm homes, for youth perhaps their outside surroundings. Balance must be the watchword in the way in which we treat Scotland’s environmental issues.

Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Glasgow
We all have a responsibility to protect the environment for future generations and to promote Scotland’s wonderful heritage.

Tricia Marwick MSP, Mid Scotland and Fife
Our children will not forgive us if we do not give proper stewardship to our environment.

Margaret Ewing MSP, Moray
Having grown up in the tranquility of a rural background I care deeply that other generations should have the same experience.

John Swinney MSP, North Tayside
Every one of us has a responsibility to leave our country in a better condition than we found it and that responsibility is ever greater for those of us with the privilege to represent the beautiful and diverse parts of Scotland.

Robert Brown MSP, Glasgow
To protect the environment, preserve and enhance green spaces especially in cities and to encourage renewable energies and the conservation of energy.

Fergus Ewing MSP, Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber
Land for the people!

Carolyn Leckie MSP, Central Scotland
I will continue to confront the barbarity of nuclear weapons, including directly confronting the state by means of direct active and civil disobedience.

James Douglas-Hamilton MSP, Lothians
We must have Sustainable Development, accompanied by protection of our countryside and wildlife for all the generations to come.

Jamie McGrigor MSP, Highlands and Islands
To encourage a biodiversity where people can reap a harvest from what is around them while conserving the environment for future generations. An environment which encourages living beings including humans.

Maureen Macmillan MSP, Highlands and Islands
Wake up and smell the daisies

John Farquhar Munro MSP, Ross, Skye and Inverness West
We must preserve and protect our environment for future generations. We only pass this way once – it is not a dress rehearsal.

Christine May MSP, Central Fife
I have worked closely with Fife Environment Network who are using all means possible to build a more sustainable Fife.

Jim Mather MSP, Highlands and Islands
Recognising that the environment is our birthright and that we should be enhancing it for future generations.

Ted Brocklebank MSP, Mid Scotland and Fife
Who doesn’t agree with Sustainability? But we should avoid ‘knee-jerk’ solutions. Genuine, well-thought out sustainability is the answer.

Andrew Arbuckle MSP, Mid Scotland and Fife
To ensure Scotland’s future by looking after the environment today.

Annabel Goldie MSP, West of Scotland
To encourage greater respect for our existing environment and to nurture thought for our future environment.

Kenny Mackaskill MSP, Lothians
The events in SE Asia bring home the request to think globally and act locally. There is no greater issue than addressing world poverty and the environment we live in.

Michael S.R.Pringle MSP, Edinburgh South
We need to be more ‘Green’ in our daily lives. I hope my proposal for a Bill to impose a levy on plastic bags will be a catalyst for greater appreciation of the importance of recycling.

Patrick Harvie MSP, Glasgow
‘It’s a shame really. Just at the moment it’s a very beautiful planet.’
‘It is. It is indeed.’
Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent, appx 2 million BCE
Let’s help to keep it that way.

Karen Gillon MSP, Clydesdale

Bruce Crawford MSP, Mid Scotland and Fife
Let’s get real on climate change today so that future generations can live at ease.

Alex Johnstone MSP, North East Scotland
Working to put the environment at the heart of political debate in Scotland.

Elaine Murray MSP, Dumfries
Combatting climate change means making difficult decisions – so lets have the courage to make them.

Alex Fergusson MSP, Galloway and Upper Nithsdale
I applaud this initiative as a means of underlining the importance of the importance of the environment for all of our futures.

Chris Ballance MSP, South of Scotland
Our environment is where we live – it is our health of our livelihood as individuals and as a nation. I continue to work for a better environment for Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson MSP, Banff and Buchan
The proce of freedom is eternal vigilance – none more so than protecting our rights to access the countryside.

Jamie Stone MSP, Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Tourism is a completely sustainable industry – or it should be. Our natural heritage is one of our greatest assets – and it has a key role in properly managed sustainable tourism.

Des McNulty MSP, Clydebank and Milngavie
We need a global approach to the environment – it is important not just to protect our heritage and environment in Scotland but also to prevent the destruction of the environment elsewhere on this very crowded planet!

Rosie Kane MSP, Glasgow
I promise to oppose the construction of the M74 N.E. inside and outside this building using both mind and body.

Rob Gibson MSP, Highlands and Islands
Lead by example,Scottish target for carbon emissions is essential to mitigate climate change – we started early polluting so we better make amends.

Eleanor Scott MSP, Highlands and Islands
I pledge to try to identify and campaign against the barriers in Scotland to living and working sustainably.

Mark Ballard MSP, Lothians
To continue to fight to end the old parties obsession with Economic Growth, and instead develop indicators of sustainable welfare as the true measures of progress.

Shona Robison MSP, Dundee East
Well done for running this campaign!

Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Perth
Remember the future!

Jack McConnell MSP, Motherwell and Wishaw
Congratulations on a successful Environment Week.

Scott Barrie MSP , Dunfermline West
Scotland’s natural heritage should not just be for the present must be for the future. It is ours to enjoy now; lets make sure it is preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Michael McMahon MSP, Hamilton North and Bellshill
We are only loaned our environment and have to pass it on to others. They will not thank us for failing to look after it for them when they get it.

Bristow Muldoon MSP, Livingston
Scotland has a fabulous natural environment, and it is our duty as Parliamentarians to act as custodians to ensure this environment is cherished and protected, and that we tackle the several areas where our record as a nation is not as it should be.

Hugh Henry MSP, Paisley South
Our environment, local and national is not just ours but it also belongs to future generations.
We need to ensure that these future generations are able to enjoy what we sometimes take for granted.

Ross Finnie MSP, West of Scotland
Congratulations to Scottish Environment LINK for organising Environment Week which must commit us to conserving the environment the environment every week.

Karen Whitefield MSP, Airdrie and Shotts
It’s important that we look after our environment and we must take the opportunity to reform our planning system to deliver environmental justice.

Jackie Baillie MSP, Dumbarton
We need to make sure that the legacy we pass on to future generations in terms of environment is improved and sustainable.

Colin Fox MSP, Lothians
As a father of two young children I am determined to see the world fit and healthy for them to enjoy as I do.

Trish Godman MSP, West Renfrewshire
Discover wildlife – have kids!

George Lyon MSP, Argyll and Bute
Preserving our natural environment is fundamental to the wellbeing of Scotland.

Richard Baker MSP , North East Scotland
I wholeheartedly welcome the first Scottish Environment Week. This is a key initiative to raise vital environment issues with politicians. We have important challenges we must focus on, including preserving Scotland’s environmental diversity and tackling climate change. This is a crucial and welcome declaration.

Bill Butler MSP, Glasgow Anniesland
I congratulate those involved in the first Scottish Environment Week. It is a commendable initiative, which I wholly support.

Jeremy Purvis MSP , Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale.
We are on the planet for such a short time, in fact only a lifetime. The damage we are doing will last much longer than our lifetimes but we can reverse it; in a small way over a short time.

Mary Scanlon MSP, Highlands and Islands
Very inspiring week. I enjoyed my ‘recycling’ visit to New Start Inverness. Well done.

John Scott MSP, Ayr
A worthwhile weeks work on behalf of the environment. Visited Scotprime in Ayr re shellfish waste disposal and trying to find solutions. Keep up good work.

Mike Rumbles MSP, West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
I would like to see our planning laws reformed to protect people and the environment from overdevelopment!

Alasdair Morgan MSP, South of Scotland
Given almost all schemes to generate electricity from renewable means will have somebody objecting to them, we must take the long term view in assessing these projects.

Stewart Maxwell MSP, West of Scotland
As an SNP MSP, I promise to carry on putting Scotland first and pledge to put every effort I can to ensure that future generations inherit a beautiful country; kept beautiful through putting the environment at the top of our agenda both politically and personally.

Nanette Milne MSP, North East Scotland
A very useful week, and a very worthwhile exercise, which allowed us all to expand our knowledge of this very important area. It is crucial to sustain the environment for future generations.

Johann Lamont MSP, Glasgow Pollock

Lewis Macdonald MSP, Aberdeen Central
I pledge to continue to work through Scotland’s devolved government and parliament to ensure that the principles of sustainable development are applied across the whole range of policy.

Marilyn Livingstone MSP, Kirkcaldy
I pledge to work hard to ensure that we get it right for our children and children’s children.

Sylvia Jackson MSP, Stirling
Sustainable development is the only way forward.

Andy Kerr MSP, East Kilbride
We must all do our bit!

Mary Mulligan MSP, Linlithgow
I want to play my part in promoting support for the environment which is understood by people everywhere and relevant to their lives. We owe it to future generations to ensure our actions now do not damage their quality of life.

Irene Oldfather MSP, Cunninghame South
Great initiative. Will work with my local communities to ensure that we recognise the importance of protecting our planet and safeguard the natural heritage for our children and grandchildren.

Fiona Hyslop MSP, Lothians
Fully support the initiative – it is important for this and future generations.

The Holyrood Declaration book was bound by Louis Valentine, Larbert

Find out more about Scottish Environment Week.

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