Fight for Scotland’s Nature

Members of Scottish Environment LINK launched the Fight for Scotland’s Nature campaign in 2018, calling for a Scottish Environment Act that would: 

• Embed key EU environmental principles in Scots law 
• Create an independent and well–resourced watchdog to enforce environmental protections 
• Set clear, legally binding targets to stop and reverse the loss of our natural environment 

The first two demands – environmental principles and a watchdog – were in response to the UK’s impending departure from the European Union, and the need to maintain the crucial environmental protections that came with EU membership. 

The third demand – targets for nature recovery – recognised that existing protections were not enough, and that we need transformative action to stem the loss of Scotland’s unique wildlife and habitats. 

The Fight for Scotland’s Nature campaign was backed by more than 60 environment charities, business and community groups across Scotland. More than 22,000 people wrote to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon calling for action to protect and restore Scotland’s nature. Thousands also wrote to their MSPs urging them to vote for strong environmental protections. 

Campaign success: The EU Continuity Act 

The Scottish government didn’t bring in a Scottish Environment Act. But at the end of 2020 it brought in the EU Continuity Act, which was a major victory for our campaign. 

Following two years of pressure from campaigners, the Act embedded internationally recognised environmental legal principles in Scots law, and stipulated that Scottish ministers and policy makers must ‘have regard’ to them when developing new policies or legislation. 

These four principles have shaped Scotland’s environment, from action on genetically modified crops and fracking to measures to tackle climate change. The EU Continuity Act ensures that they continue to form the basis of Scotland’s environmental policy following the UK’s departure from the EU. 

Campaign success: a new environmental protection watchdog 

The EU Continuity Act also set up a new watchdog, Environmental Standards Scotland, to monitor the effectiveness of environmental law in Scotland, and public authorities’ compliance with it. 

Campaign success: Commitment to nature recovery targets 

To reverse the decline of Scotland’s nature and to help it recover on a big scale, we need action across society. To make this happen, we need the Scottish government to set legally binding nature recovery targets – and to meet them. 

Scotland’s ambitious, world leading climate targets are vital in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving us towards the goal of ‘net zero’ emissions by 2045. We know the climate and nature emergencies are linked, and we can’t tackle one without the other. We need the same ambition for nature. 

In August 2021 the Scottish government committed to setting targets for nature restoration in a Natural Environment Bill to be introduced in 2023-24. This commitment was another major victory for our campaign. 

Scottish Environment LINK members continue to engage with the Scottish government on nature recovery targets and how they might be delivered by legislation. We look forward to the introduction of the Natural Environment Bill.