Draft Environment Strategy: strategic environmental assessment

Chapter 6: Mitigation and enhancement

6.1 The 2005 Act states that ‘the measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme’ are outlined within the Environmental Report. These measures are often referred to as mitigation measures. The following text summarises the mitigation measures identified from the assessment.

6.2 No significant negative environmental effects have been identified, however a range of enhancement measures are described in relation to the actions below.

Outcome 1: Scotland’s biodiversity is restored and regenerated

Mitigation and enhancement

• The Environment Strategy should include a clearer statement of the priority of additional action to accelerate biodiversity restoration.
• The Environment Strategy should include proposals on how to bring about change in the shorter term, identifying the resources required to achieve change at a faster rate. This is particularly relevant to those actions dependent on behavioural change such as sustainable farming, fishing and forestry, sustainable consumption choices, pollution reduction and sustainable travel.

Outcome 2: We have ended Scotland’s contribution to climate change

Mitigation and enhancement

• The Environment Strategy should give more detail on the scope of new changes to forthcoming plans and strategies outlined in Outcome 2, including the next Climate Change Plan, forthcoming Circular Economy Strategy and forthcoming Product Stewardship Plan. This would provide clarity on how these documents would further contribute to this outcome.
• The Environment Strategy could provide further detail on what additional research is needed to drive behaviour change to chieve emissions reductions.
• The Environment Strategy could include proposals to increase consumer awareness of product carbon footprints, for example through product labelling.

Outcome 3: We minimise pollution and waste in our environment

Mitigation and enhancement

• The Environment Strategy should give more detail on the improvements of new strategies outlined in Outcome 3, including the long-term framework for air quality and fourth River Basin Management Plan.
• In the chemical pollution section of Outcome 3 the Environment Strategy should outline which chemicals in particular are included in the strategy, especially regarding future actions.
• The Environment Strategy could introduce the deposit return scheme sooner and introduce measures to expand producer responsibility and support investment in advanced recycling technologies.
• The Environment Strategy could support introducing stronger pollution regulations, measures to enhance public engagement and incentivise business innovation in waste reduction.
• The Environment Strategy could support awareness and consumer choices in relation to air quality, plastic and chemical pollution.

Outcome 4: Scotland’s global environmental impact is sustainable

Mitigation and enhancement

6.3 It is recommended that detail is added to Outcome 4 on how actions will be achieved, or the wording should be more definite that actions will be achieved.

6.4 Detail is recommended on the type:

• of climate and nature action that will be undertaken through international collaboration.
• of environmental impacts to be fully considered during the negotiation of trade deals.
• of opportunities to strengthen Scotland’s role as a good global citizen.

6.5 The addition of timescales is suggested for:

• When a ban on plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries will be delivered.

Outcome 5: Scotland’s society is transformed for the better by living sustainably, in harmony with nature

Mitigation and enhancement

• The Environment Strategy should include proposals on how to bring about change in the shorter term, identifying the resources required to achieve change at a faster rate. This is particularly relevant to those actions dependent on behavioural change such as addressing food waste and food choices.
• The Environment Strategy should outline how the creation of blue and green infrastructure will be designed to support positive effects for landscape and cultural heritage.

Outcome 6: Scotland’s net zero, nature positive and circular economy thrives within the planet’s sustainable limits

Mitigation and enhancement

6.6 Further detail in Outcome 6 is recommended on:

• How private and public investment in infrastructure to enable the net zero transition will be generated.
• Design of new due diligence requirements for tackling deforestation.
• Timescales for proposals to deliver a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard.
• How environmental impacts and opportunities will be taken into account during the negotiation and implementation of trade deals.
• Potential implications for Scotland from strengthened EU action on due diligence.
• Approach to strengthening climate and nature literacy across the public sector.
• Potential implications for Scotland from the design of new due diligence requirements for tackling deforestation.
• Approach to decarbonising existing industrial technologies.

6.7 Timescales should be indicated for:

• Developing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
• New Scottish Air Departure Tax.

Outcome 7: We build Scotland’s resilience to climate change and other global environmental risks

Mitigation and enhancement

• The Environment Strategy should include proposals on how to bring about change in the shorter term, identifying the resources required to achieve change at a faster rate.
• Policy on resilience to climate and nature-related risks could be improved by enhancing integration, funding, and accountability measures.

Outcome 8: These transformations are achieved through a just transition and support climate and environmental justice

Mitigation and enhancement

• Further detail could be added in Outcome 8 into how the Scottish Government can achieve just transition and support climate and environmental justice, considering all nine SEA Topics.
• Further detail on how people will be supported to access justice on environmental matters could be included.