The Environment Strategy for Scotland: Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

Recommendations and Conclusion

Our findings have discovered that the Environment Strategy will generally have a positive impact on everyone in Scotland including those with protected characteristics, as it will increase access to green spaces and improve air quality. This will create significant health benefits and help to tackle inequalities in our society. The Strategy includes an explicit consideration of fairness and equity in the distribution of benefits from the achievement of its objectives. It states that we are committed to ensuring these benefits are shared widely, through a just transition. This means equipping people with the skills needed to secure high-value jobs in green industries, while also providing job security for those in industries that will play the biggest part in the transition. It also means empowering community-led action and supporting public participation. In parallel with our just transition, we are committed to supporting climate and environmental justice, in Scotland and overseas, and intergenerational equity.

There are some groups with protected characteristics that will benefit more greatly from the outcomes of the Strategy. These protected groups include age, disability, pregnancy and maternity, gender, race, religion and belief, gender reassignment and sexual orientation. However, it is important that consideration is given to avoid any potential unintended consequences from the Environment Strategy, such as town planning issues and difficulties from moving to sustainable lifestyles for older people and those with disabilities.

It is important to note that the actions that follow the publication of the Environment Strategy will be assessed for their impact through inclusive engagement, and further Impact Assessments, including an EQIA, will be carried out where appropriate. It will be important for an early equality analysis during policy design to avoid disproportionate impacts on disabled people, older adults, and low‑income groups. Policy areas relating to housing, community infrastructure or climate resilience should also actively consider these risks, given the links to homelessness and vulnerability identified in the evidence. These impact assessments will be important to ensure that there are no unintended consequences from the Environment Strategy on people with protected characteristics, especially those with disabilities and older people.

We recommend that during the implementation of the priorities and proposals to support the Environment Strategy, further inclusive engagement and Equality Impact Assessments are completed or consideration is given to those with protected characteristics and how these are integrated into the governance structure, which will be responsible for the delivery of the Strategy’s proposals and priorities. In the monitoring, it will be important for improved equality‑disaggregated data to support future assessment and implementation.