A Scottish parliamentary committee has backed proposals to introduce statutory targets to restore nature.
Legally binding nature recovery targets are the central demand of the Scotland Loves Nature campaign, launched by Scottish Environment LINK and backed by more than 40 organisations.
The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has published its Stage 1 Report on the Natural Environment Bill, summarising the evidence heard and making recommendations to ministers ahead of the Bill being debated by the whole parliament.
The committee report describes the rate of nature loss as ‘deeply concerning’ and says that efforts to date have not halted biodiversity decline. The report says that committee members support the introduction of targets ‘as a mechanism to galvanise and increase action’, adding that targets must be accompanied by ‘meaningful actions, and reinforced by sufficient public resources’.
The report also explores in depth concerns around Part 2 of the Bill, which would give the Scottish Government wide-ranging powers to modify crucial pieces of environmental protection. A summary of Part 2 is available in an earlier LINK Thinks blog.
The report agrees that the Bill ‘would allow for a very wide scope for these regimes [habitats regulations and EIA legislation] to be amended using secondary legislation’ and calls for additional safeguards. Some MSPs on the committee support the removal of Part 2 in its entirety.
What’s next for the Bill?
The Stage 1 debate, where all MSPs will discuss and then vote on the general principles of the Bill, will take place on 30 October.
At Stage 2 the committee will consider amendments to the Bill, which can be proposed by the Scottish Government or by MSPs.
LINK members support the Scottish Government in its approach to introducing nature targets, but will be pushing MSPs to strengthen the Bill even further to ensure the targets are as robust as possible.
With the committee report echoing the significant concerns raised by stakeholders around Part 2 of the Bill, the Cabinet Secretary must show willingness to listen. It is likely that government amendments will need to be substantial to reassure MSPs that the new powers are necessary, proportionate, and do not undermine critical protections for nature.