Draft Environment Strategy: consultation

Consultation

The Scottish Government has launched a consultation to seek views on the draft Environment Strategy and the related draft impact assessments. Your views are crucial to informing the development of the final Environment Strategy.

This consultation paper sets out the arrangements for consultation and the consultation questions.

The consultation can also be accessed via the following link: https://consult.gov.scot/environment-forestry/draft-environment-strategy/

Consultation questions:

Vision and outcomes

Question 1: Do you agree with the vision of the Environment Strategy?

Question 2: Are there any outcomes that you feel should be removed, added or changed in the Environment Strategy?

Outcome pathways

Question 3: There now follow questions about the individual outcome pathways. Do you think that the outcome pathways considered together include the important policies, actions and future priorities to achieve the Vision? If not, what changes would you suggest?

Outcomes on biodiversity, climate change and pollution

Question 4: The pathways for the outcomes on biodiversity, climate change and pollution signpost to existing policies – how can we best address potential synergies and trade-offs across these outcomes? For example, how can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a way that also helps to restore biodiversity and minimise pollution?

Scotland’s global environmental impact is sustainable

Question 5: What are the top priorities the Scottish Government should focus on to improve the environmental impact of Scotland’s activities on other countries? – For example, this could include the impacts of producing the goods and services we import into Scotland, our exports of waste and our approach to international engagement.

Question 6: Do you have any further views on how the pathway outlined in the draft Strategy can help achieve the outcome “Scotland’s global environmental impact is sustainable”?

Scotland’s society is transformed for the better by living sustainably, in harmony with nature

Question 7: To what extent do you agree/disagree that societal changes, including in our lifestyles and behaviours, are needed to help tackle the nature, climate and pollution crises?

If you agree, please explain in the text box below how you think the Scottish Government could most effectively support and enable these changes in ways that also help to improve people’s lives and tackle inequalities.

Or, if you disagree, please explain in the text box below why you don’t think that societal changes, including in our lifestyles and behaviours, are needed to help tackle the nature, climate and pollution crises.

Question 8: Do you have any further views on how the pathway outlined in the draft Strategy can help achieve the outcome “Scotland’s society is transformed for the better by living sustainably, in harmony with nature”?

Scotland’s net zero, nature positive and circular economy thrives within the planet’s sustainable limits

Question 9: To what extent do you agree/disagree that a just transition to a net zero, nature positive, circular economy is needed to support Scotland’s role in tackling the nature, climate and pollution crises?

If you agree, please explain in the text box below how you think the Scottish Government could most effectively support this transition in ways that create wider economic opportunities for Scotland, including for jobs and businesses.

Or, if you disagree, please explain in the text box below why you don’t think a just transition to a net zero, nature positive, circular economy is needed to support Scotland’s role in tackling the nature, climate and pollution crises.

Question 10: Do you have any further views on how the pathway outlined in the draft Strategy can help achieve the outcome “Scotland’s net zero, nature positive and circular economy thrives within the planet’s sustainable limits”?

We build Scotland’s resilience to climate change and other global environmental risks

Question 11: Do you agree/disagree with the approach set out in the pathway for the outcome “We build Scotland’s resilience to climate change and other global environmental risks”?

These transformations are achieved through a just transition and support climate and environmental justice

Question 12: Do you agree/disagree with the approach set out in the pathway for the outcome “These transformations are achieved through a just transition and support climate and environmental justice”?

Questions on the Impact Assessments

Question 13: Do you have any views on whether there are likely to be any positive or negative environmental impacts from the draft Environment Strategy that have not been identified in the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)?

Question 14: Is there anything in the draft Environment Strategy which should be added or changed to strengthen positive impacts or lessen any negative impacts on people with protected characteristics?

Question 15: Are there any positive or negative impacts on protected groups (age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation) that have not been identified in the draft Equalities Impact Assessment?

Question 16: Are there any other protected groups, which have not been identified in the draft Equalities Impact Assessment, that will potentially be positively or negatively impacted by the Environment Strategy?

Question 17: Are there any positive or negative impacts on island communities that are different from the impacts on mainland areas from the draft Environment Strategy, that have not been identified in the draft Islands Communities Impact Assessment?

Question 18: Are there any positive or negative impacts on groups experiencing socio-economic disadvantage (such as income, low wealth or area deprivation) from the draft Environment Strategy that have not been identified in the draft Fairer Scotland Duty?

Question 19: Are there any positive or negative impacts from the draft Environment Strategy that have not been identified in the draft Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment?

Question 20: Are there any positive or negative impacts from the draft Environment Strategy that have not been identified in the draft Consumer Duty Impact Assessment?

Question 21: Are there any positive or negative impacts from the draft Environment Strategy on businesses that have not been identified in the partial BRIA?

Question 22: Do you have any further views on the partial BRIA?

Question 23: Are there any other positive or negative impacts on areas such as health in the draft Environment Strategy that should be considered?