Environment Strategy for Scotland: strategic environmental assessment (SEA) post adoption statement

How the Environmental Report has been taken into account

The Environment Strategy sets out a holistic framework for delivering Scotland’s role in tackling the global crises of nature loss, climate change and pollution. The Strategy brings together the Scottish Government’s existing policy response to tackling nature loss, climate change and pollution, highlighting the importance of carefully managing synergies and trade-offs across these goals. It builds on these existing policies by outlining new priorities and proposals.

The final Strategy presents a more focused core Strategy, with the pathways setting out policies and priorities to meet the outcomes presented as annexes. The draft includes a new section setting out an integrated approach to achieving the vision of the Strategy, setting out ways to tackle the nature, pollution and climate crises together, and deliver multiple environmental, social and economic benefits. There is also new material setting out how the Strategy will promote alignment between environmental and economic policies. In the outcome pathways, a clearer focus on the steps that the Scottish Government will take to drive progress towards the outcomes has been introduced. Clarity on the Strategy’s approach and what it is designed to achieve has also been provided in the final draft.

The introduction of the Environment Strategy will lead to an improvement in environmental quality across all the SEA topics. The SEA found that the overall environmental impacts were positive. It also found that despite the Scottish Government having policies to address these challenges, that without having the implementation of the draft Environment Strategy these will be less effective as opportunities for more effective implementation and coordination of policy will be lost. A summary of this is provided below for each of the SEA topics:

SEA topics

Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna:

The following risks and threats to biodiversity from the range of drivers of biodiversity are likely to continue to be experienced:

• Risks to species and habitats from pests, pathogens and invasive species.
• Risks to species and habitats from pollution and exploitation.
• Loss of species and habitats from wildfires, water scarcity, and flooding from changing climatic conditions and extreme weather events.
• Shifts in species movements and loss of species unable to adapt to a rapidly changing environment.

The SEA also sets out that positive cumulative effects are expected in relation to biodiversity, flora and fauna.

Population and Human Health:

Without the implementation of a coherent Environment Strategy, impacts of climate change combined with environmental degradation on population and human health are likely to increase further, through both social and economic impacts.

• Increased risks to communities from disruption to infrastructure and transport networks.
• Increased risks from exposure to high temperatures.
• Increased risks to communities from flood events.
• Increased impacts on coastal communities and businesses due to sea level rise, coastal flooding and erosion.
• Impacts on food safety and security.

The SEA also sets out that positive cumulative effects are expected in relation to population and human health across all eight of the Outcomes in the draft Environment Strategy.

Climatic Factors:

Without the implementation of a coherent Environment Strategy there will be continued action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, however there will be increasing exposure to climate risks from past, present and future emissions in the absence of coordinated action. Natural carbon stores in terms of soils and vegetation can emit more carbon in the absence of appropriate adaptation measures. Uncoordinated and unplanned adaptation can further contribute to emissions as a result of increased demand for energy for cooling or materials required to remediate the impacts of climate change.

The SEA also sets out that the future actions identified in the draft Environment Strategy are expected to deliver positive cumulative effects for climate change mitigation. In addition, across all eight outcomes, positive cumulative effects are identified for climate adaptation.

Air:

The Scottish Government has policies to address these challenges, but without the implementation of the draft Environment Strategy these will be less effective as opportunities for more effective implementation and coordination of policy will be lost.

The increase in temperature associated with climate change will impact on air quality in a number of ways. For example, this could lead to increases in photochemical smog. Drought episodes can also lead to emissions of volatile organic compounds from vegetation. Furthermore, increased wildfires could also impact on air quality, including from transboundary events. In the absence of measures to address these sources of air pollutants, there are likely to be increased impacts on both human health and the natural environment.

The SEA also sets out that overall positive cumulative effects are expected for air quality from the actions set out in the draft Environment Strategy.

Soil:

The Scottish Government has policies to address these challenges, but without the implementation of the draft Environment Strategy these will be less effective as opportunities for more effective implementation and coordination of policy will be lost. Adverse effects on soil by land use and climate change will continue (including seasonal aridity and wetness), exacerbating soil compaction, erosion and flooding. Opportunities to restore degraded carbon stores, particularly peatlands, may not be fully realised.

The SEA also sets out that overall positive cumulative effects are expected for soil resources and geological sites from the actions set out in the draft Environment Strategy.

Water:

The Scottish Government has policies to address these challenges, but without the implementation of the draft Environment Strategy these will be less effective as opportunities for more effective implementation and coordination of policy will be lost. It is likely that many of the risks associated with the water environment will continue to increase. Key impacts are likely to result from more frequent and severe flooding, periods of water shortage, deteriorating water quality during flood and low flow conditions and damage to aquatic and marine habitats and species.

The SEA also sets out that overall positive cumulative effects are expected for water from the actions set out in the draft Environment Strategy.

Cultural Heritage and the Historic Environment:

The draft Environment Strategy will support Scotland’s progress to net zero and measures that reduce emissions or support adaptation to climate change, e.g. by ensuring historic buildings are wind and water-tight with good ventilation systems to respond to a shift in climatic changes. Without the implementation of the draft Environment Strategy, there will be less joined up working to support the management of heritage assets.

The SEA also sets out that generally due to the indirect effects of the outcomes no cumulative effects are expected for cultural heritage from the actions set out in the draft Environment Strategy.

Landscape and Geodiversity:

The Scottish Government has policies to address these challenges, but without the implementation of the draft Environment Strategy these will be less effective as opportunities for more effective implementation and coordination of policy will be lost, and management of landscape change will be further challenged. The impacts of unmanaged change could include landscape change resulting from flood damage, coastal change and wildfire. There could be increases in pests and disease which impact on key species within the landscape and lead to losses of trees, crops and livestock. Although adaptation measures would still take place, these would be at a lower rate and within a less coordinated framework.

The SEA also sets out that generally due to the indirect nature of effects no cumulative effects are expected for landscape, seascape or townscape from the actions set out in the draft Environment Strategy.

Material Assets:

The Scottish Government has policies to address these challenges, but without the implementation of the draft Environment Strategy these will be less effective as opportunities for more effective implementation and coordination of policy will be lost. It is likely that critical infrastructure will become more vulnerable to severe weather events, and also associated coastal erosion.

This includes impacts on the energy network, water supply, communications and transport infrastructure increasing the risk of cascading systems failures affecting communities and businesses across Scotland. Direct impacts on physical infrastructure such as buildings, including risks from severe weather, and overheating will also impact on delivery of services, wellbeing and human health.

The SEA also sets out that overall positive cumulative effects are expected for material assets from the actions set out in the draft Environment Strategy.

Outcomes in the Environment Strategy

The Environmental Report also set out the assessment findings and the significant environmental effects of the draft Environment Strategy by outcome.

Outcome 1

Existing policy commitments outlined in outcome 1 were found to have a direct positive effect on the SEA objective of biodiversity, flora and fauna in the medium to long-term. These existing policy commitments aim to restore and regenerate biodiversity by 2045, ensuring Scotland is nature positive by 2030 and setting statutory nature restoration targets.

Existing policy commitments outlined in outcome 1 are also expected to have indirect positive effects in the medium to long term to SEA objectives of population and human health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, air, soil, water, cultural heritage, including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape, seascape and townscape and material assets.

Outcome 2

Existing policy commitments set out under outcome 2 have direct positive effects in relation to the SEA objective of climate change mitigation. Current actions and policy commitments will all bring about change in the medium to long term. Existing policy commitments set out under outcome 2 are expected to bring indirect positive effects in the medium to long term in relation to the SEA objectives of biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health, climate change adaptation, air, soil, water, cultural heritage, landscape, seascape and townscape, and material assets.

The future actions set out under outcome 2 are projected to have direct positive effects in relation to the SEA objective of climate change mitigation. Indirect positive effects are also expected for the following SEA objectives of biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health, climate change adaptation, air, soil, cultural heritage, landscape, seascape and townscape, and material assets.

Outcome 3:

The existing policies outlined provide indirect positive effects on the following SEA objectives of biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, soil, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, and landscape, seascape and townscape. There will also be direct positive effects from the current policies in the Environment Strategy on the SEA objectives of Air, Water and Material assets.

Future policies that are outlined in outcome 3 are expected to deliver medium to long-term benefits although their full impact depends on effective implementation. This will impact the SEA objectives of biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, and landscape, seascape and townscape. Future actions will also provide direct positive effects on the SEA objectives air, water, and material assets and indirect positive effects on soil.

Outcome 4:

Existing policy actions outlined in outcome 4 have a direct positive effect on the following SEA objectives of biodiversity, flora and fauna, climate change mitigation, air, and material assets. Current measures such as the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map, the Local Food Strategy and international climate justice efforts will have an indirect positive effect on the SEA objective of population and human health, but are likely to be in the medium to long term. Current policies also have an indirect positive effect on the SEA objective of climate change adaptation.

Future policies outlined in outcome 4 are expected to strengthen and expand existing positive effects. These actions are projected to have an indirect positive impact on the SEA objectives of biodiversity flora and fauna, population and human health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, air and material assets. These could also lead to medium to long term benefits.

Outcome 5:

Current policy actions outlined in outcome 5 will have direct positive effects on the SEA objectives biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, air, soil and water in the short to medium term. There might also be some positive and negative indirect effects depending on the design of some of the policy action on the SEA objectives of cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage and landscape, seascape, and townscape over the medium to long term.

Some future policy actions will have indirect positive effects in relation to SEA objectives of biodiversity flora and fauna, population and human health, climate change mitigation and adaptation, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape, seascape and townscape and material assets in the medium to long term. Positive effects are also expected in relation to the SEA objectives of air, soil and water in the medium to long term.

Outcome 6:

The existing policy actions outlined in outcome 6 predominantly result in indirect positive effects in the medium to long term across several SEA objectives. However, the benefits will take time to materialise as they depend on infrastructure development and policy implementation.

Future policy actions in outcome 6 are expected to reinforce and expand the benefits of current policies, with continued emphasis on indirect positive effects in the medium to long term. However, there are no policy actions identified that result in an effect in relation to SEA objectives of soil, water, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage and landscape, seascape and townscape.

Outcome 7:

Existing policy actions outlined are assessed as having indirect positive effects on the SEA objectives biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health, air, soil, water, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape, seascape and townscape, and material assets. There are likely to be indirect positive effects on climate change mitigation and adaptation both in the medium to long term.

Future policy actions outlined are also expected to have predominantly indirect positive effects, with benefits emerging in the medium to long term for the SEA objectives biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health, air, soil, water, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape, seascape and townscape, and material assets. Future policy actions will also indirectly support climate change mitigation and adaption in the medium to long term.

Outcome 8:

The current policy actions outlined will largely have indirect positive effects across multiple SEA objectives in the short, medium and long term. Direct positive effects were identified on population and human health in medium and long term.

Regarding future policy actions, the only SEA objective expected to have effects is on population and human health, where a direct positive effect is anticipated in the medium to long term.