Rural and Environment

  • In the news: Beach clean

    28th November 2019 by

    You may have seen in the media today (Guardian, BBC) that the Marine Conservation Society has released the results of its most recent Great British Beach Clean. In Scotland, the results show it was another record-breaking year, with more beach cleans taking place and more volunteers getting involved than ever before. The survey found that 7,669 kg of litter was removed from the Scottish coastline as a result of their efforts.

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  • Building environmental diplomacy on a Chief Scientific Advisor’s research exchange

    21st November 2019 by

    By Professor Andrew Millar, Chief Scientific Advisor, Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture From the salt pans of the Atacama to a slice of the Antarctic, Chile stretches as far around the Earth’s latitude as any other country. Its striking diversity of life was what interested the biologists in our delegation from the University of Edinburgh,...

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  • In the news: Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme

    12th November 2019 by

    You may have seen in the news today that the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform committee is taking evidence on Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme. Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “We continue to make progress with plans to implement our ambitious Deposit Return Scheme as part of our response to the global climate emergency. “A...

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  • Supporting communities on our journey to net-zero

    11th November 2019 by

    Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham Two weeks ago, our new Climate Change Bill received Royal Assent. We now have, in law, by far the most stringent climate legislation of any country in the world. Our journey to net-zero emissions will require different and more difficult choices than has been the case to date and it...

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  • Agriculture Support Outlined

    1st November 2019 by

    Following a six year campaign, and sustained pressure by successive Scottish Ministers and key farmer and crofter organisations, an historic wrong has finally been righted. Scotland is getting its convergence funding after all. This wrong saw the UK qualify for a £190 million uplift in EU funding, but Scotland only received £30 million. That money provided for an uplift, that without Scotland’s extremely low average rate per hectare, the UK would not have qualified for.

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  • Animals and animal products after Brexit

    17th October 2019 by

    Scotland does not want to leave the EU but there is a strong risk that we may end up leaving without a deal in place on 31st October 2019. While the Scottish Government is doing as much as it can to mitigate the impact of leaving the EU, we will not be able to prevent or address every impact. Leaving the EU will mean things we are used to happening, or which we agreed to as part of a Member State, will no longer stand. This note sets out what you need to do what you need to do to…

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  • Plant and plant products after Brexit

    16th October 2019 by

    Scotland does not want to leave the EU but there is a strong risk that we may end up leaving without a deal in place on 31st October 2019. While the Scottish Government is doing as much as it can to mitigate the impact of leaving the EU, we cannot mitigate for every impact. Leaving the EU will mean things we currently take for granted, or which we agreed to as part of a Member State, will no longer stand. This note sets out what you need to do to ensure you can continue to import/export plant and plant products…

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  • Women in Agriculture

    15th October 2019 by

    It has been a privilege to co-Chair the Scottish Government’s Women in Agriculture Taskforce. It is mostly made up of women, though a few men are also involved. They have a range of backgrounds, but all of them have an interest and a stake in the future of farming and food production. They all have real life experience, knowledge and skills to share. In particular, I want to pay tribute to the drive, energy and enthusiasm of my co-Chair Joyce Campbell. She has been key to the taskforce’s success. But….

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  • Pet Travel to the EU after Brexit

    15th October 2019 by

    Scotland does not want to leave the EU but there is a strong risk that we may end up leaving without a deal in place on 31st October 2019. While the Scottish Government is doing as much as it can to mitigate the impact of leaving the EU, we cannot mitigate for every impact. Leaving the EU will mean things we currently take for granted, or which we agreed to as part of a Member State, will no longer stand. This note sets out what you need to do what you need to do to make sure your family pet…

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  • Trading with the EU after Brexit

    14th October 2019 by

    Scotland does not want to leave the EU but there is a strong risk that we may end up leaving without a deal in place on 31st October 2019. While the Scottish Government is doing as much as it can to mitigate the impact of leaving the EU, we cannot mitigate for every impact. Leaving the EU will mean things we currently take for granted, or which we agreed to as part of a Member State, will no longer stand. This note sets out what you need to do to ensure your food and drink business can continue to import/export…

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