Draft Environment Strategy
The draft Environment Strategy sets out a holistic framework for delivering Scotland’s role in tackling the global crises of nature loss, climate change and pollution. It brings together our existing policy response to tackling these crises and builds on these by outlining new priorities and proposals.
Footnotes
1 Programme for Government - First Minister's speech – 6 May 2025
2 For example: IPBES Transformative change assessment, IPBES Values assessment; Applying the Unlocking a Better Future framework for a just transition in Scotland | SEI; Transformative Changes for Sustainability
3 UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021
4 AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 — IPCC
5 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services | IPBES secretariat
6 Living Planet Report 2024 | WWF
7 A global foresight report on planetary health and human wellbeing | UNEP
10 Planetary boundaries - Stockholm Resilience Centre
11 Global Risks Report 2025 | World Economic Forum
12 The National Outcomes are currently under review. Figure 4 and Annex A will be updated to reflect changes in the National Outcomes once this review has completed.
13 The Continuity Act places a duty on Scottish Ministers to have due regard to the Environment Strategy when developing policies.
14 Nature Positive means reversing the downward curve of biodiversity loss so that levels of biodiversity are once again increasing, bending the curve of biodiversity loss.
15 IPBES Global Assessment; Understanding the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss in Scotland
16 The underlying causes of biodiversity loss are identified as: disconnection of people from nature and domination over nature and other people; the inequitable concentration of power and wealth; and the prioritisation of short-term individual and material gains.
17 Green Industrial Strategy Part Two: Opportunity Areas
18 Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics 2022
19 Climate change action: policy package
20 Carbon footprint | National Performance Framework
21 Overview of key behaviours impacting on Scotland's air quality
23 Global Plastics Outlook | OECD
24 Including consideration of environmental charging, and prioritising action on single-use drinks cups.
25 PAS 510:2021 | 31 Jul 2021 | BSI Knowledge
27 Welcome to KIMO - healthy seas, thriving communities
28 Text of the Global Framework on Chemicals | UNEP - UN Environment Programme
30 Scotland's Material Footprint - Environment Strategy Monitoring Framework
31 Scotland's Carbon Footprint 1998-2020
32 Scotland's circular economy and waste route map to 2030
33 The Linking Environment to Trade (LET) Guide | JNCC Resource Hub
34 Including physical inactivity, poor mental health and health inequalities.
35 For example, Teaching, learning and play in the outdoors (NatureScot, 2023). Drawing on survey data from 2014 and 2022, this research shows that schools located in more deprived areas offer less outdoor provision. The longest outdoor event duration in primary schools surveyed is identified across those schools located in areas categorised in the highest Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile (least deprived).
36 For example, the United Nations ‘Animal welfare–environment–sustainable development nexus’ resolution (2022) and the call for holistic approaches to considering these interlinkages in para 27 of the Agriculture development, food security and nutrition’ resolution (2023).
37 Review of Scottish Government Activity affecting the Welfare of Animals, as Sentient Beings
38 Consultation on fairer food labelling - Defra - Citizen Space
39 For example, the UN General Assembly formally recognised the right to a healthy environment in 2022.
40 SNAP 2 – Scotland's second National Human Rights Action Plan
43 Sustainable and regenerative farming - next steps: statement
44 Organic farming statistics 2023: United Kingdom
45 In comparison to the 2013 baseline, in 2021 – despite a 1% per capita decrease in food waste at the household level – there was a total 2% per capita increase and an overall 5% increase in the tonnage of food wasted.
46 Transport poverty: a public health issue
47 Long term vision for active travel in Scotland 2030
48 Active Travel Infrastructure Investment Report
49 National Transport Strategy 2 | Transport Scotland
50 Green Heat Finance Taskforce Report: Part 2
51 Consumer perceptions of and engagement with the transition to net zero
52 Including a 2024 Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition complemented by a proposed Directive on Green Claims.
53 IPBES Transformative Change Assessment
54 Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation - gov.scot
55 Final Report - The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review - GOV.UK
56 Renewable Energy Planning Database: quarterly extract
57 Bioenergy - draft policy statement: consultation
58 UN Resolution on Environmental Aspects of Minerals and Metals
59 Prosper was previously known as the Scottish Council for Development and Industry
60 Business Purpose Commission report: Scottish Government response
61 Now is the Time for Purpose
62 Including frameworks developed by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures
63 Global Biodiversity Framework Target 15
64 2023 Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
65 Including the 2023 EU Deforestation Regulation & 2024 EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
68 Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
69 International evidence on fiscal levers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
70 Regional and place-based economic development initiatives include (among others) Regional Economic Partnerships and the linked £1.9 billion programme of city region and regional growth deals; support provided by the Scottish Hub for Regional Economic Development and Enterprise Agencies; and plans for promoting Community Wealth Building. The Scottish Government has committed to empower decision-making and investment through Regional Economic Partnerships.
71 Regional and place-based climate and environment initiatives include (among others) Regional Land Use Partnerships, Regional Adaptation Partnerships, Nature Networks, regional Just Transition Plans, Community Climate Action Hubs and National Parks.
72 Wellbeing Economy Governments (WEGo)
73 For example, globally, the costs of addressing biodiversity loss would double if delayed by ten years and add an estimated minimum of $500 billion per year for addressing climate change. IPBES Nexus Assessment.
74 The Scottish Fiscal Commission estimates that around 28% of the additional costs of achieving net zero would fall to the public purse.
75 Investor Panel recommendations: Scottish Government response
76 Home - UK Woodland Carbon Code
77 Peatland Code | IUCN UK Peatland Programme
78 Investment that: i) delivers integrated land use; ii) delivers public, private and community benefit; iii) demonstrates engagement and collaboration; iv) is ethical and values-led; v) is of high environmental integrity; and vi) supports diverse and productive land ownership.
80 Investment Strategy 2024/25 | Scottish National Investment Bank
81 Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026: climate change taxonomy; Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026: Carbon assessment
82 Scottish Taskforce for Green and Sustainable Financial Services Final Report: SG Response
84 As set out in the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map, this research will identify potential candidate products for any new requirement for contracting authorities to purchase goods with recycled content, recycled or reused products or recyclable products.
85 See Policy 2 on climate change mitigation and adaptation
86 Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26
87 South of Scotland officially designated as Scotland’s Natural Capital Innovation Zone
88 Green Jobs Barometer Scotland 2024
89 For example, nature-based jobs grew at more than five times the rate of all jobs in Scotland in the period 2015-19 and accounted for one third of all job growth in Scotland in this period: Nature-based jobs and skills for net zero - an initial assessment | NatureScot
90 Nature Risk Rising (World Economic Forum, 2020)
91 Assessing the Materiality of Nature-Related Financial Risks for the UK (Green Finance Institute, 2024)
92 Including the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme
93 Scottish Forestry - Communities and forestry
94 Community Benefits Register and Map: Projects overview · Local Energy Scotland – accessed 17 June 2025
95 Applying the Unlocking a Better Future framework for a just transition in Scotland | SEI – see Section 3: Unlocking change through public engagement
96 Climate Justice Fund 2024-2026: allocations
97 Loss and damage refers to the impacts of the climate crisis not averted or minimized through adaptation and mitigation activities.