Scottish biodiversity strategy: report to Parliament 2020 to 2024

9. Looking forward

9.1 The continuing pressures on biodiversity in Scotland

Many of the pressures on biodiversity in Scotland have not abated. In 2019 the influential IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services identified five direct drivers of biodiversity loss operating at a global level:

• Land-/sea-use change and management.
• Direct exploitation.
• Climate change.
• Pollution.
• Invasive non-native species.

Five Strategic Goals and twenty Aichi Biodiversity Targets were adopted at Conference of the Parties to the CBD in Nagoya in 2010 (CoP10). However, the 5th Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-5), released in September 2020, showed that none of the Aichi Targets was met at the international level. Although Scotland met nine of the twenty targets, the overall conclusion that the world was not on track for the 2050 Biodiversity Vision of ‘living in harmony with nature’ applies very much to Scotland. As outlined in the Introduction, four new overarching goals for 2050 and 23 intermediate targets for 2030 are central to the new Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at CoP15.

9.2 The need for transformative change

The Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES Report, 2019) provides clear evidence that transformative change is required if the biodiversity crisis is to be addressed. It identified several attributes for the required work:

• Focus on the key drivers of biodiversity loss – both direct and indirect.
• Apply an ecosystem approach – work in more integrated ways towards shared goals.
• Mainstream biodiversity delivery – involve more sectors, organisations and individuals in developing a nature-rich future.
• Develop nature-based solutions for a net-zero economy.

In addition, there is recognition of the need to:

• Develop nature networks that support and link our most important nature sites.
• Put Nature-based Solutions in place that respond to the climate emergency.
• Mainstream biodiversity action across all sections of public and private sectors
• Aim for a just transition to a net zero economy

9.3 The indirect drivers of biodiversity loss

In 2021 NatureScot commissioned research from the James Hutton Institute (JHI) on Understanding the Indirect Drivers of Biodiversity Loss in Scotland to improve our understanding of how to respond to the recommendations from the IPBES Global Assessment Report which identified a wide array of social and economic factors that undermine our efforts to address the loss of nature and bring about the required ‘transformative change’.

Th JHI team of researchers investigated how the indirect drivers operate in Scotland with the aim of identifying ‘levers of change’ that different sectors and actors can influence. The levers include strategies, plans, policies, legislation, guidance, standards, governance structures and regulations with the overall aim of influencing societal values and behaviours by strengthening the connection people have with nature.

The JHI recommendations included:

• moving towards a net-zero wellbeing economy
• mainstreaming and integrating biodiversity across government
• involving local and experiential knowledge in decision-making
• strengthening the role of Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities in delivering biodiversity outcomes, including through Nature-based Solutions
• integrating natural capital into economic performance measures, reducing the environmental impacts of our consumption
• reforming land use subsidies and incentives
• reducing the environmental impacts of consumption
• increasing access to nature for disadvantaged communities
• building nature connection and pro-environment behaviours through volunteering and citizen science
• strengthening delivery of Learning for Sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Global Biodiversity Framework Targets 12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 address the indirect drivers. They aim to track efforts to enhance urban green and blue spaces, integrate biodiversity in national accounting, disclose impacts on biodiversity from consumption, and reform incentives and subsidies.

Objective 6 of the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan focuses on actions to address the indirect drivers. A Communications & Public Engagement Programme is planned to increase public connection with nature through campaigns and a national nature volunteer and citizen science framework to encourage nature positive activity, increased volunteering and participation in citizen science.

Later in 2024, two further assessments from IPBES will reinforce the need for Transformative Change to halt the loss of biodiversity, with the Nexus assessment highlighting the interdependencies between biodiversity, water, health, food and climate.

9.4 The Biodiversity Strategy to 2045: tackling the nature emergency

The draft Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 sets out our clear ambition for Scotland to be Nature positive by 2030 and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045. Although there is evidence of successful actions for some habitats and species, the ongoing decline of biodiversity demonstrates that we must do a great deal more and at scale to bend the curve of biodiversity loss. Section 4 of The Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 describes a number of ‘Enabling Conditions For Success’ alongside some ‘Key lessons’, including the need to:

• Work more strategically and scale.
• Focus on ecosystem health and land and seascape-scale regeneration rather than on management for individual species.
• Systematically mainstream biodiversity across sectors and the wider policy landscape (e.g. energy, housing, industry, education, health and transport).
• Ensure sufficient investment and appropriately blend public and private funding.
• Strengthen accountability for delivery including evidence-based monitoring frameworks.

9.5 The Delivery Plan

The first Delivery Plan sets out planned actions under six objectives.

1. Accelerate restoration and regeneration.

2. Protect nature on land and at sea, across and beyond Protected Areas.

3. Embed nature-positive farming, fishing and forestry.

4. Protect and support the recovery of vulnerable and important species and habitats.

5. Invest in Nature.

6. Take action on the indirect drivers of biodiversity loss, including action to increase public understanding, engagement and positive behaviours for nature (see also s9.3 above).

9.6 The Biodiversity Investment Plan

The Biodiversity Investment Plan will support delivery of SBS outcomes and help Scotland become market ready by identifying and setting out a suite of actions to support investment which will help deliver a nature positive future by mobilising public, private and philanthropic finance. As set out in the Interim Principles for Responsible Investment in Natural Capital, the aim is to develop markets that also deliver benefits for local communities and wider society in line with Scotland’s Just Transition principles and land reform objectives.

Scotland will align with the highest global standards, such as the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and use transparent metrics that inspire investor confidence and engender trust from all stakeholders. Crucial to this approach is the ability to access ‘investment grade’ data which demonstrate the outcomes promised by investment. Our membership of the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures will help us inform and learn from international best practice.

9.7 Natural Environment Bill

The First Minister confirmed on 4 September 2024 that a Natural Environment Bill will be introduced to Parliament to support delivery of Scotland’s goals for biodiversity and net zero and was published on 19 February 2025. The Bill includes proposals for statutory targets to drive ambition and enable Parliament to monitor progress.