Rural and Environment

  • 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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  • In the news: global climate strikes

    20th September 2019 by

    You may have seen in the news today that a day of action is taking place across the world to raise awareness of the global climate emergency.  Scotland is a world leader in tackling climate change. We have already almost halved greenhouse gas emissions since 1990 while growing the economy, increasing employment and productivity. Now...

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  • Rural Scotland and the Programme for Government

    12th September 2019 by

    Rural Scotland makes a vital contribution to our national economy. Our rural and island assets provide natural and business resources for key economic sectors, especially food and drink, but also energy, tourism, creative industries and life science. I am clear that we must work to build on these successes to improve the wellbeing of our rural, coastal and island communities and provide a positive future for them. Having declared a global climate emergency, achieving our climate ambitions will involve harnessing the power and capital of rural Scotland. This is a challenge, but also an opportunity for us to help people…

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  • Orkney leading the way on climate change

    15th August 2019 by

    The parliamentary recess provides a valuable opportunity for Scottish Government ministers to spend even more time meeting communities across the country. This week I visited the beautiful Orkney islands to see and hear first-hand how Orcadians are rising to the challenges of climate change unique to island communities and capitalising on innovation in the shared...

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  • Climate change cabinet, green infrastructure funding and timber transport

    9th August 2019 by

    Climate change-themed travelling cabinet During this week’s travelling cabinet, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has officially opened a new £6 million project which uses cutting-edge renewables technology to harness energy from waste water. Ms Sturgeon launched the Stirling District Heat Network project while visiting the city as part of the 50th Travelling Cabinet. The project, which...

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  • This week on Greener: Climate Conversations, Nature Conservations and more

    2nd August 2019 by

    Protecting Scotland’s iconic brands Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has written to the newly appointed UK Secretary of State Theresa Villiers calling on her to ensure that iconic Scottish food and drink products continue to have the necessary protections in place in the EU – deal or no deal. The UK Government has previously indicated...

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  • This week: 19/07/19

    19th July 2019 by

    Disposable cups An expert panel in Scotland has issued a report recommending a charge on disposable drinks cups as a method of reducing single cup use. Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “Disposable cups present an obvious littering issue, but there is ever-growing awareness within our society of the impact single-use plastic has on our wider...

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  • This week: 05/07/19

    5th July 2019 by

    Aquaculture innovation funding Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing announced £743,000 for aquaculture innovation projects. Rural support payments Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing announced that the Scottish Government has met the EU payment threshold of at least 95.24% for all 5 CAP Pillar 1 schemes being paid by the deadline of 30th June 2019.  More than...

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  • In the news: Net-zero commitment

    12th June 2019 by

    The UK Government has finally announced that greenhouse gas emissions in the UK will be cut to almost zero by 2050, which is being reported widely this morning. The Scottish Government is determined to stop contributing to climate change within a generation and acted on the advice from the Committee on Climate Change immediately by lodging amendments to the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill to set a legally binding target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest.

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  • This week: 7/6/19

    7th June 2019 by

    Food and Drink exports A second phase of the Scotland Food and Drink Export Plan has been announced – to help the industry to achieve its overall aim to double turnover value to £30 billion by 2030. The Food and Drink Export Plan is supported by £4.5 million OF joint funding from the Scottish Government,...

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