Develop a communication and engagement programme to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of biodiversity and its links to climate change and the changes needed to ensure a just transition to a net zero and nature-positive Scotland.
Objective 6: Take action on the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss
Priority Action 28. Engage and strengthen the connection between people and communities with nature.
Public communication and engagement on biodiversity and climate change in Scotland is being delivered through a range of government and partner-led campaigns and outreach activity, including initiatives such as Make Space for Nature and wider NatureScot communications on biodiversity and nature recovery.
Scottish Government policy set out in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045, the Climate Change Plan, and the Draft Environment Strategy identifies public engagement and behaviour change as necessary components of delivering biodiversity recovery, climate action and a transition to a nature-positive and net zero Scotland. However, engagement activity is currently spread across multiple campaigns and organisations, rather than delivered through a single coordinated national programme with a unified delivery framework. There is also limited published evidence of consistent, system-wide evaluation of behaviour change outcomes linked specifically to biodiversity communications activity.
Communication and engagement activity supports biodiversity outcomes indirectly by increasing public awareness, understanding, and participation in nature-friendly behaviours, including support for habitat protection and nature restoration.
Scottish Government strategies confirm that behaviour change and public engagement are enabling conditions for achieving biodiversity and climate targets. However, ecological impacts are indirect and not consistently measured at a national level.
Scottish Government – Scotland’s Climate Change Plan – 2026-2040
Scottish Government – Draft Environment Strategy
Increase public connection and action for nature through expanding the reach of the Make Space for Nature campaign and develop a national nature volunteer and citizen science frameworks.
Encourage people’s connection to nature through local green spaces and other land managed for nature, supporting capacity-building projects.
Work with stakeholders to complete a review of opportunities for increasing community participation in safeguarding marine biodiversity.
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