Rural and Environment

  • Staying safe in the countryside

    3rd July 2020 by

    By Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham For some of us, the easing of travel restrictions announced by the First Minister yesterday means we can go that little bit further from our homes this weekend (though if the forecast’s anything to go by, it won’t be an opportunity to top up the tan). It also means that...

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  • Launch of ScotWind

    11th June 2020 by

    Crown Estate Scotland has launched ScotWind, the first round of offshore wind leasing to be administered in Scotland.

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  • Letter on distillery co-products

    3rd June 2020 by

    The bioenergy, agriculture and Scotch Whisky sectors are being consulted on how to ensure a fairer market for distillery co-products used in livestock feed in Scotland. Distillery co-products are an important source of protein and fibre when used for livestock feed, but the amount used in Scotland has decreased in recent years as prices have...

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  • UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

    1st June 2020 by

    Commenting on the announcement of a UK-wide Emissions Trading Scheme, Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented global crisis which has fundamentally changed every aspect of our lives and the immediate focus for Government continues, rightly, to be on protecting lives and livelihoods. However, we also recognise...

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  • Keeping essential services running during the coronavirus pandemic

    24th April 2020 by

    Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has written to those working in the waste and resources sector to thank them for keeping essential services running and for protecting the environment during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The text of the letter is as follows: To those working in the waste and resources sector I am writing to thank...

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  • Environment Strategy launched

    28th February 2020 by

    We have a clearer picture than ever before of the crises our climate and natural world are facing. Global assessments have highlighted the scale and urgency of action needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and the loss of the world’s biodiversity. I am determined that Scotland will play our part in responding to these crises.

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  • The EU has been a good friend to rural Scotland

    31st January 2020 by

    The EU has been a good friend to rural Scotland. For the whole of the Scottish Parliament’s lifetime, the rural economy has benefitted from our membership. Over the years, our engagement with it has allowed Scotland to push our case on everything from agriculture and fisheries policy reform, to fishing quotas and forestry. Scotland has had a voice in the room – a room we will no longer be able to enter.

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  • In the news: Land use report

    23rd January 2020 by

    You may have seen coverage in the media around the UK Committee on Climate Change’s latest report into Land Use. The report states that land use must change to meet the UK's net zero target. Although it is possible to reduce the emission of Greenhouse Gases in ways that are consistent with other strategic priorities for land - such as food production and biodiversity - the current UK & Devolved Administration policy frameworks for food production, forestry, and environment will not achieve the net zero target and must change significantly. The Scottish Government’s response is below.

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  • In the news: Circular Economy Bill

    21st January 2020 by

    You may have seen in The Scotsman today an opinion piece from James MacKenzie regarding our proposals for a Circular Economy Bill. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “A thriving circular economy presents enormous economic and industrial opportunities for Scotland, as well as significant environmental benefits. For our journey towards becoming a net-zero society to be...

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  • Start planning for your low carbon future

    17th January 2020 by

    2019 will be remembered as the year that Scotland took a stand on the global climate emergency and saw the introduction of our new world-leading climate change legislation. This sets a target date for Scotland to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. This means that our contribution to climate change will end, definitively, within one generation. This transition will be for the benefit of our environment, our people, now and in the future. Let me be clear though, achieving this will require additional effort and will present challenges and opportunities, including for farming and food production. It is indisputable that our…

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