The Environment Strategy for Scotland: Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA)

Assessment

Intended impacts/outcomes

The Vision of the Environment Strategy supports our broader ambitions for building a wellbeing economy that supports and promotes economic and social equality, and decarbonises our communities, and one that values the health and the happiness of its people, as much as their productivity. We believe that the Strategy will have a direct effect on everyone in Scotland, including on island communities, by improving people’s health and wellbeing, tackling poverty and inequalities, and supporting jobs and businesses in the transition to net zero by 2045.

In the responses to the consultation question on the draft ICIA and from a review of the literature, there were a number of positive impacts and outcomes that were highlighted for island communities from the priorities and proposals in the Environment Strategy. These include:

• the potential for green jobs in island communities;
• greater access to greenspaces;
• the possible reduction in energy costs, and community-led environmental projects;
• greater resilience to the impacts of climate change, and
• environmental restoration which can help boost physical and mental wellbeing as well as increasing tourism.

However, some of the consultation responses highlighted the possible unintended consequences from the priorities and proposals in the Environment Strategy. The responses also stated how these could potentially have a more significant impact on island communities than on those living on the mainland. These included:

• the impact on island communities and the natural environment from renewable energy expansion;
• risks of losing traditional island economic activities;
• higher costs for island communities from transitioning to sustainable energy and greener transportation.

It is essential that these potential unintended consequences on island communities are considered and mitigated against during the implementation of the proposals and priorities in the Environment Strategy. Consultation responses also highlighted the importance of ensuring that new priorities and proposals from the Strategy are tailored for island communities, such as transport models.

A number of measures were suggested in the consultation to help mitigate against some of the suggested unintended consequences from the Strategy, these included ring-fenced funding for island infrastructure and services, community benefit clauses for energy projects, support for farmers, crofters, and seafood SMEs, improved ferry reliability and digital connectivity, practical waste solutions and marine litter clean-up and youth pathways into green skills and sustained engagement.

Mitigations & Enhancement

It is essential that there is an effective strategic management from the planning stage to the implementation of the actions identified in the Environment Strategy. The effective management of the actions will be the most influential enhancer of all positive impacts from the Strategy. When these actions are taken forward, it is important that island communities have the tools, resources and knowledge to take advantage of these policies to their full extent.

During the implementation of the priorities in the Environment Strategy, it is important that the potential impacts on island communities that have been highlighted in the consultation responses are considered and mitigated against.

Determination

In your opinion, is the Environment Strategy likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities)?

We do not currently believe a full Island Community Impact Assessment is required, as we do not believe that the positive, intended impacts of the Environment Strategy will have a significantly different effect on island communities than what can be expected on the mainland. However, it is possible that some individual policy measures considered in support of the priorities set out in the Strategy could have differential impacts on island populations which should be considered. It is important that the potential impacts on islands highlighted in the responses to the consultation and from further engagement are considered and mitigated against during the implementation of the priorities and proposals. The appropriate level of Island Communities Impact Assessment should be carried when considering policy measures.

It is important to note that any priorities and actions identified in the outcome pathways that follow the publication of the Environment Strategy will be assessed for their impact on island communities and further Impact Assessments, including an ICIA, will be carried out where appropriate. As part of these impact assessments, it is recommended that stakeholder engagement with relevant representative groups and those with lived experience is undertaken as measures are developed.

Authorisation

Authorisation Name: Tim Ellis

Position: Deputy Director, Future Environment Division

Signature: Tim Ellis

Date completed: 17/02/2026