Rural and Environment

  • Response to new UK emissions target

    4th December 2020 by

    Commenting on today’s announcement from the UK Government that, as part of their nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, they are targeting a 68% cut in emissions by 2030, Scotland’s Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “The news that the UK Government is targeting a 68% cut in emissions by 2030 is welcome...

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  • Countdown to Glasgow COP26 begins

    9th November 2020 by

    Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has said the next year will be a “critical time” for international climate action, as Glasgow prepares to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021. With one year to go until Scotland’s largest city welcomes world leaders and delegates at COP26, Ms Cunningham said the summit presented an...

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  • Environment Secretary: ‘Global climate emergency has not gone away’

    7th October 2020 by

    Environment and Climate Change Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham today responded to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) 2020 statutory Scottish Progress Report. She said: “While in recent months coronavirus (COVID-19) has rightly been the overwhelming focus of governments across the world, the global climate emergency has not gone away – far from it – and this...

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  • Launch of ScotWind

    11th June 2020 by

    An image of Roseanna Cunningham by a lake with hills in the background.

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

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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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  • 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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  • 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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  • 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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