Scottish Parliament election: what the party manifestos say on the environment
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Scottish Parliament election: what the party manifestos say on the environment
Scotland will vote for its next parliament on 6 May and the five main political parties have released their manifestos in the lead up to the
election day. To help LINK members and supporters we have produced this guide to help you compare each party’s pledges with the 12 asks in
LINK’s Manifesto for Nature and Climate.
This table is a snapshot of commitments that have been made to improve Scotland’s environment in the face of the nature and climate
emergency and each party manifesto contains further detail. We have included quotes that go some way to meeting our 12 asks although not
all fulfil them completely.
LINK members called What the 5 main parties have said:
on political parties to
commit to: SNP Scottish Conservatives Scottish Labour Scottish Greens Scottish Liberal
(read here) (read here) (read here) (read here) Democrats
(read here)
A Nature Network for “We will ensure that “We would establish “Scottish Labour “We will... create a “Our intentions for the
Scotland delivering every Local Authority Nature Networks supports… a Nature Nature Network for new national planning
bigger, better, more area will have a across Scotland to Network for Scotland Scotland, connecting framework are to:
joined up sites for Nature Network of better safeguard through the National habitats across the • Make sure access to
nature. new, locally driven protected areas, allow Planning Framework.” country to ensure they green, open spaces,
projects which aim to species to move are robust, coherent wildlife corridors and
improve ecological between habitats and and proofed against woodland is available
connectivity across ensure that our climate change. The to every community.”
Scotland.” natural assets are Nature Network will be
treated as part of our given statutory weight
national infrastructure. in national planning
We will work with documents and
the UK Government to government policy,
ensure Nature and will include areas
Networks are seamless for rewilding.”
where they cross
between Scotland and
England.”An ambitious “We will publish a new “One in nine species in “Scottish Labour We will...Introduce “We will propose a
Environment Act that biodiversity strategy Scotland are supports an ambitious legally binding nature Nature Recovery Law
includes legally- within 12 months of threatened by Environment Act that recovery targets. tos et legal targets
binding targets for the biodiversity COP, extinction. To prevent includes legally binding across government to
nature’s recovery. and remain committed this, the Scottish targets for nature’s clean up our air, soils,
to protecting at least Conservatives would recovery” seas and rivers. We
30% of Scotland’s land bring forward an will:
by 2030. We want to ambitious Nature Bill to • Set legally binding
go further still and will strengthen nature recovery
review our current environmental targets, with an action
targets when we protections on land plan and financial
publish our new and sea for Scottish support for delivery.”
strategy.” species and their
habitats.”
A plan for ocean “Through the blue “We will review the “We will also support a “The Scottish Greens “We will start a Marine
recovery where at least economy action plan, current Marine plan for ocean recovery will ensure at least 30% Recovery Plan to
30% of Scotland’s seas we will seek to Protected Areas with at least one tenth of our seas are restore more of our
are highly protected reduce harmful in Scottish waters, with of Scotland’s Seas fully protected, and a third seas, encourage
from extractive practices and a view to expanding protected, and a of this area will be marine biodiversity and
activities by 2030. consequences such as their extent, and pilot further 20% highly highly protected, which boost ecotourism
marine littering, the introduction of protected, from means fishing and businesses alongside
marine plastics, Highly Protected destructive and other industries would traditional maritime
pollution and reduce Marine Areas.” extractive activities by be excluded. This will industries.
carbon emissions from 2030.” protect Scotland’s • Designate new
marine activity – in unique marine marine protected areas
particular, we will environment and where this is backed by
explore the potential wildlife, and support scientific evidence.
for low carbon fishing our economy and that • Support research to
vessels to be deployed of coastal communities demonstrate how
on inshore waters.” in particular as it will Scotland’s marine area
deliver net benefits to acts to capture carbon
fish stocks and support in the seabed and
the growth of marine ecosystems.”
sustainable fishing and
seafood businesses,
creating more green
jobs.”Sufficient funding to “Invest an additional “We will develop a “As part of our plans “We will initiate a full
address the climate £500 million in our Biodiversity Action Plan for a green economic spending review at the
and nature emergency. natural economy to for land, air and sea, recovery, the Scottish conclusion of the
*Note LINK’s specific help tackle the with adequate funding, Greens will invest in pandemic period to
call for increased biodiversity crisis.” which the whole the restoration and guide the recovery in
funding for Scotland’s country can coalesce protection of public services and the
public environment around before it is too Scotland’s parks, green economy.The spending
agencies. late. We also need spaces review, in particular,
greater investment in and natural will
climate adaption, environment. This will align the capital
which create green programme with our
recognises the risks of jobs across Scotland, climate change
flooding with coastal particularly in rural priorities, not least
protection, river basin areas. We will invest at ending fuel poverty.”
management and least £895m over the
flood prevention next five years in
schemes. We must restoring nature whilst
ensure that the investing in rural
opportunity to communities, creating
sequester carbon in over 6,000 green jobs.”
our marine
environment is
adequately funded.”
Legislation and policies “We will bring forward “To deliver this, we “Scottish Labour will “We will: Introduce a
“We will introduce a
to decarbonise and a Circular Economy Bill would bring forward support reduction Circular Economy Bill
Circular Economy Law
build a Circular to advance Scotland’s a Circular Economy Bill targets for the circular with targets to reduce
including targets that
Economy. ambitions for the early in the next economy, which adopts our overall reduce the emissions
circular economy Parliament. This will set similar models to those consumption of raw produced in creating
through measures new targets used in the Climate materials, our carbon
everything we
which will encourage for reducing our raw Change Act.” footprint, and a duty to
consume, and use
reuse of products and material usage, produce Resource other parts of our
reduce waste. The bill especially those that “Scottish Labour Reduction Plans.” programme, to
will tackle our reliance are single use or supports measures that achieve:
on single-use items and difficult to recycle. deliver a circular “We will....Move • Comprehensive
include measures to Alongside this, we will economy, including towards a circular assessment,
tackle textile invest in our recycling introducing a Circular economy whereby all monitoring and
pollution/fast fashion.” capacity and fund the Economy Bill and packaging and products reporting of Scotland’screation of a Centre for obligations on the sold in Scotland must material, land, carbon
Circular Economy producers of waste be readily able to be and water footprints.
Excellence to drive the and annual material reused, repaired, or A duty to produce a
rollout of best practice flow accounts. This recycled, with Resource Reduction
in business, public includes the producers responsible Plan, updated every
sector, the third sector introduction of deposit for the costs of five years.”
and communities. We return schemes and managing their
will establish a regulatory action to products throughout
Circular Economy eliminate plastic their lifecycle.”
Awards Scheme to cigarette filters, as well
recognise innovation in as supporting global
reuse and waste campaigns to tackle
reduction. We will abuses in the global
ensure that public fashion supply chain.”
procurement is used to
incentivise the delivery
of our environmental
targets and enhance
our circular economy.”
Support future farming “We will support “Scottish Conservatives “Farmers and crofters “We will… Deliver a We will use the recent
with nature at its farmers to produce would reverse cuts to need clarity as a new new Agriculture Bill conclusions of the
heart. more of our own the Agri-Environment agriculture support that enshrines the expert working groups
food needs sustainably Climate Scheme and system is developed to principles of climate on agriculture support
and to farm and croft agree a multi-year help tackle the climate and nature recovery as a starting point in
with nature, including extension until the new crisis. We will maintain into a new agricultural driving the
through enhanced agricultural policy current levels of support scheme. transition to a more
animal welfare and is implemented.” funding until 2024 and • Make emission sustainable food
health approaches and from then we will put reductions and climate production system.”
better adoption and in place a new scheme mitigation measures a
deployment of that gives farmers and compulsory “We will expand and
technology and crofters certainty. The requirement for all diversify the Farm
innovation, as new financial support subsidies, delivering Advisory Service to
recommended by must recognise significant change at no provide new jobs,
the recent work of farmers’ knowledge, extra cost. training and skills, that
farmer-led groups set recognising their • Replace current support sustainable
up in the last experience in reducing grants with Land land use.”
parliament. A single emissions and Managementimplementation board protecting Scotland’s Contracts, which will
with representation landscape and work support farmers to
from all farming towards sustainable deliver a range of
sectors and types will farming practices. We public benefits
be believe that the new including organic
established to drive agricultural support farmland conversion,
this work forward.” package offers agroforestry,
a valuable opportunity agroecology, soil
“We remain committed to deliver on baseline conservation and
to supporting active environmental peatland restoration,
farming and food commitments, and flood management,
production with direct incentivise actions that wetland creation,
payments. By 2025, deliver food landscape restoration
however, we will shift production, climate and public access,
half of all funding for and biodiversity renewable energy,
farming and crofting outcomes in a rewilding and species
from unconditional to complementary reintroductions.”
conditional support fashion.”
and there will be
targeted outcomes for
biodiversity gain and a
drive towards low
carbon approaches
which improve
resilience, efficiency
and profitability.”
Protections for our “We will ban the sale of “Peatland covers more “Scottish Labour “Ban peat extraction “License of the practice
peatlands including peat related gardening than a fifth of Scotland, would...increase and sale for of muirburn in the
implementing a ban on products.” yet around 80 per cent peatland restoration to horticultural use.” uplands.”
peat extraction and of Scotland’s natural 20,000 hectares each
sale for horticultural AND peatland is degraded. year, alongside AND
use as well as a ban on To prevent further measures to end
burning of peatlands. “We ... remain damage, we would end commercial peat “Ban the burning of
committed to peat extraction for use extraction.” peatlands and license
implementing the in compost and we any other proposed
licensing of driven would aim to increase AND burning.”
grouse shooting.” peatland restoration “Going further than theto 20,000 hectares Werritty report,
annually by 2024-25.” Scottish Labour will
support the
comprehensive
licensing of grouse
moors as soon as
possible, with robust
criteria to end the
unsustainable practices
of driven grouse moors
and to promote the
sustainable
development of our
uplands, in the
interests of everyone.”
Establish Regional Land “We would ensure “We will develop “We will… Establish
Use Frameworks by Regional Land Use Regional Land Use Regional land use
2023. Partnerships Frameworks by 2023, partnerships in every
sufficiently represent with input from a wide part of Scotland by
the agricultural sector range of stakeholders 2023 to help deliver
and support the to set out regional land nature networks and
delivery of new use priorities and restore our
agricultural policy.” funding requirements.” environment.”
A new Deer (Scotland) “We will implement “We will support land “Overgrazing “Address grazing “Implement the
Act to bring deer the recommendations managers in controlling by deer can damage pressure in the uplands recommendations of
management into the of the Deer Working our deer population to our native woodlands, by increasing the deer the Deer Management
21st century. Group and modernise reduce damage to our and we support management grant, Review to control
deer management natural environment.” modernising deer implementing the numbers and restore
legislation.” legislation and the recommendations of biodiverse landscapes.”
implementation of the the Deer Management
Deer Working Group Working Group, and
recommendations.” encouraging a
reduction in sheep
numbers via existing
agricultural support
schemes.”At least 50% of all “We will increase our “We would increase “At least 50% of all “Just 18% of Scotland is “Expand woodland
woodland expansion targets for new new tree planting in woodland expansion currently forested, but using at least 50
to be with native woodland creation Scotland to 18,000 should be with native our vision is to increase per cent native species,
species and at least by 50%, from 12,000 hectares annually by species and at least this to 40%, and for at increasing Scotland’s
10% through natural hectares up to 18,000 2024-25. However, 10% delivered through least 60% of this to be forest cover by an
regeneration. hectares per year by quality and biodiversity natural regeneration.” native woodland. We additional 36 million
2025.” are also important, so will: Target the Scottish trees every year.”
we would increase the Forestry Grant
proportion of new programme at native
planting that is of woodland creation,
native species, while including productive
ensuring that mixed and broadleaf
Scotland’s forests are woodland as well as
productive.” woodland where
nature and recreation
is prioritised.”
An end to wildlife “We will legislate to “Scottish Labour will “We will:Deliver a fully “We will guarantee
crime by fully close loopholes in the carry out a full review resourced a Wildlife sufficient resources for
resourcing a full-time law protecting of Scotland’s outdated Crime Investigation the police’s Wildlife
Wildlife Crime Unit foxes and other wild animal welfare Unit to investigate Crime Investigation
within Police Scotland. mammals.” legislation, with a view wildlife persecution Unit”
to strengthening and enforce protection,
wildlife protection law and
and animal welfare.” ensure there are
adequate wildlife crime
officers in all regions.”
Protections for our “We will ensure that “We would also protect “Establish Land
freshwater species and trees, woodlands and Scotland’s iconic Management Contracts
habitats, including by natural resources play salmon rivers.” to reward farmers and
limiting development a key role in flood land managers
on floodplains to give prevention schemes, in financially for
more space for our riparian repair activity delivering natural flood
rivers and coasts to and to address air management
naturally regenerate. pollution.” solutions.”
“Deliver a Scottish
Water investmentprogramme that
protects and enhances
the environmental
status of rivers and
beaches…”
Other: to enshrine a “we will incorporate “The Scottish “Introduce a Human “We will also aim to
Human Right to a four more United Parliament agrees that Rights (Scotland) Act to fully incorporate the
Healthy Environment Nations Human Rights now is the time to fully enshrine fundamental Right to a Healthy and
treaties into Scots Law: enshrine in law a rights, including the Safe Environment
human right to a right to a healthy and into Scots Law in line
- The International healthy environment. safe environment.” with the UN framework
Covenant on Economic, Scottish Labour has a principles, and the
Social and Cultural plan to deliver this.” Aarhus Convention.”
Rights
- The Convention on .
the Elimination of All
Forms of
Discrimination against
Women
- The Convention on
the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial
Discrimination
- The Convention on
the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities
This world-leading
human rights
legislation will reduce
inequality and advance
the rights of everyone
and ensure human
rights are embedded in
every aspect of life in
Scotland.”LINK is a Scottish Charity (SC000296) and a Scottish Company Limited by guarantee (SC250899), core funded by Membership Subscriptions and by grants from NatureScot, Scottish Government and Charitable Trusts. Registered Headquarters: 13 Marshall Place, Perth, PH2 8AH Advocacy Office: Dolphin House, 4 Hunter Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1QW
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