Government urged to bring in Environment Act

Mountaineering Scotland is one of over 90 organisations to sign a letter to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urging her Government to bring forward a new Scottish Environment Act.

The letter seeks a legislative commitment from the Scottish Government to safeguard against the risks of a potential exit from the European Union and also to face up to the acknowledged climate emergency and the associated looming ecological disaster.

Since November 2018, Scottish Environment LINK members have been running the campaign Fight for Scotland’s Nature which is calling for a Scottish Environment Act.

When the Government issued its consultation on post-Brexit proposals for environmental protection, LINK ran a successful petition which saw over 22,000 people write to the Government asking for such an act.

This letter has been timed for when the Government will be considering its next programme for government.

The LINK letter, which you can download here, was submitted on Thursday evening, and will also be publicised on the LINK website and at the Fight for Scotland’s Nature campaign website.

Stuart Younie, Chief Executive Officer of Mountaineering Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be getting behind this campaign, and to call on the Scottish Government to ensure that the EU protections which have played an important role in protecting and enhancing our natural environment are retained. With the uncertainties of Brexit, a Scottish Environment Act offers an opportunity to take positive action which will help address biodiversity loss.”

A copy of the letter and the list of signatories can be downloaded here.