Environment Strategy for Scotland: equality impact assessment

Key Findings

The evidence and analysis that was gathered as part of this EQIA suggested that the Environment Strategy will reduce the harms of poor air quality and environmental quality, which will have a positive impact on everyone in Scotland, including those with protected characteristics. This will benefit everyone and there will not be a disproportionate impact on any particular group. However, the evidence suggested that the Environment Strategy will significantly benefit those persons with protected characteristics of age, disability, pregnancy and maternity, gender, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment and sexual orientation. At the same time, it will be important to consider and mitigate against any potential unintended consequences on particular groups.

Age

Evidence has found that the Environment Strategy will provide substantial benefits to children and younger people and older people through increasing access to green spaces and improving air quality. The evidence suggested that these groups are more likely to be impacted by poor air quality. For younger people, poor air quality has been found to increase the risk of asthma and chest infections^[1]. There are also opportunities in the Strategy to increase outdoor learning for children, which will help improve their mental wellbeing^[2].

For older people, the health impacts of air pollution include increasing risk of stroke, dementia, cancer, multiple longer-term illness including respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and early death^[3]. Consultation responses highlighted the importance of green and blue spaces for improving health and wellbeing for older people, which could help promote physical activity and reduce social isolation among older people. In addition, the Strategy might reduce the risk to older people due to the potential reduction in climate change related events such as flooding and wildfires^[4].

As the evidence in this Equality Impact Assessment has suggested, younger and older people are more likely to benefit from the priorities and proposals that come from the Environment Strategy. However, it is important that consideration is given to accessible design in transport, housing, and community infrastructure for older people to mitigate against any potential unintended consequences, and how this can also help other protected groups.

Disability

Those with disabilities are also likely to benefit substantially through the Environment Strategy, including those with physical and mental disabilities. People with physical and pre-existing health conditions, such as heart disease, lung conditions and asthma, will benefit as they are more adversely affected by day-to-day changes in air pollution^[5]. It will also help prevent more people being diagnosed with these conditions due to improved air quality. In addition, the Strategy might make it easier for those with disabilities due to the potential reduction in climate change related events such as flooding and wildfires, as those with disabilities are more likely to face more disproportionate impacts of climate changes.

There is also evidence of links between poor air quality and poor mental health, as well as links to specific mental disorders, and impacts on the brain and possible links to dementia and cognitive decline^[6]. The Environment Strategy will help to improve mental wellbeing from increasing access to greenspaces and air quality. This is evidenced by research that has found that increasing access to greenspaces and improved air quality helps to improve our mental wellbeing^[7].

Consultation responses highlighted that better access to nature and greenspaces can also strengthen physical and mental wellbeing and reduce social isolation, especially for disabled people. Other responses also highlighted the accessibility barriers that currently persist in access to green spaces, transport, and built environments for disabled people.

The evidence demonstrates that the priorities and proposals in the Environment Strategy to improve air quality, reduce pollution and increase access to green spaces will help those with a physical and mental disability, as well as improving everyone’s physical health and mental wellbeing. However, it is important that consideration is given to support those with sensory, learning and physical disabilities when improving green infrastructure and transport, and helping people move to a more sustainable lifestyle. It is vital that consideration is given to also help mitigate against any unintended consequences.

Sex

The evidence indicates that women will benefit from the development of human rights framework and Environment Strategy through better access to greenspaces^[8]. It is important that when considering the improvement of access to greenspaces to encourage more women to use greenspaces, consideration is given to safety and access with “safety by design” identified as an important principle for Strategy delivery. Evidence provided to the consultation also highlighted economic issues with less women working in green sectors, particularly in STEM, waste management and energy. The Environment Strategy can also help increase the number of women working in these sectors.

Research has also found that air pollution has a greater impact on pregnant women than on some other groups. This can increase the risk of babies being born smaller or having a low birth rate as well as being born premature^[9]. The priorities and proposals in the Environment Strategy will help improve women’s access to greenspaces and increase jobs in the green sector.

Pregnancy and maternity

Poor environmental quality which can cause poor air quality also increases the risk of poor health during pregnancy. These risks can cause babies being born smaller or being born premature.^[10] There is also evidence to suggest that it can lower the birth rate. This is also evidenced by a study that found raised levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution that are commonplace around the world increase the risk of miscarriage by 16%^[11].

The priorities and proposals listed in the Environment Strategy will help improve air quality and reduce pollution which will help reduce the risks of these issues occurring in pregnancy.

Race

Research has found that ethnically diverse communities are less likely to have access to green spaces in the UK, and that people of Black or mixed ethnicities are more likely to live in the most polluted places^[12][13]. On green jobs, consultation responses pointed to low levels of ethnic diversity in green industries and environmental governance, noting that workers from minority backgrounds are underrepresented in key sectors such as waste management and energy. This would indicate that increasing access to green spaces and improving air quality through the Environment Strategy is likely to have a beneficial impact on these communities, and if managed successfully could also increase the levels of ethnic diversity in green industries.

Religion and belief

Some responses to the consultation noted that green and outdoor spaces can hold cultural or spiritual significance for certain communities, and proposed improvements to access could help strengthen cohesion and a sense of belonging. This protected characteristic is likely to benefit from the Environment Strategy.

Gender reassignment

On the EQIA question in the consultation, some responses suggested that LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately affected by homelessness and housing insecurity, particularly trans and racialised young people^[14]. Although not directly related to housing insecurity, the emphasis on justice and equity in the priorities and proposals in the Environment Strategy could support beneficial impacts on people with protected characteristic of gender reassignment.

Sexual orientation

On the EQIA question in the consultation, some responses suggested that LGBTQ+ people can be at higher risk from the effects of climate change and social inequality, as they are disproportionately affected by homelessness and housing insecurity, which can increase exposure to environmental risks^[15]. Although not directly related to housing insecurity, the emphasis on justice and equity in the priorities and proposals in the Environment Strategy could support beneficial impacts on people with protected characteristic of sexual orientation.