The Scottish Government aim to make Scotland greener by improving the natural and built environment, valued by those living and working in Scotland and underpinning many of our business and key sectors. The challenge is to improve Scotland's environment today and for future generations, while significantly reducing Scotland's negative impact on the global environment.
In particular, information on the following is available:
- Climate change, which includes development and implementation of policy measures to tackle emissions of greenhouse gases, adapt to the effects of a changing climate and address ozone depleting substances. Information covers domestic, EU and international obligations and ambitions in the areas of climate change and ozone depleting substances.
- Countryside, National Parks & Natural Heritage, which includes coastal issues, landscape issues, and public access. The Scottish Government aims to secure clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse marine and coastal environments. Information on the website includes:
Minutes, papers and publications of the Sustainable Seas Task Force and the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy.
Links to EU and International marine and coastal initiatives and agreements.
Responsibilities and guidance on licensing deposits in the seas, marine pollution and offshore emergency procedures.
Ballast water policy.
Coastal zone management policy.
Minutes, events, publications and responses to government of the Scottish Coastal Forum.
Background to the Fisheries and Offshore Consultative Group.
- Wildlife and Habitats, which includes biodiversity, invasive species, European network of protected areas designated under the EC Birds and Habitats Directives, Protection, conservation and management of marine mammals in Scottish waters, and wildlife species licensing and bird registration.
- Pollution (including the role of local authorities in addressing local environmental issues) which includes:
Air quality - advice and guidance for local authorities, research reports commissioned by the Scottish and UK Governments and links to other relevant research, links to legislation, background information on air pollutants and links to other relevant websites.
Noise and nuisance - material on neighbourhood noise, environmental noise, light pollution, statutory nuisance, odour from waste water treatment works, information on fireworks and legislation covering their use, and the Scottish Noise Management Guide.
Litter; clean up of contaminated land, the main controls on industrial pollution, the treatment and disposal of waste.
Drinking water quality, reservoir safety, marine and freshwater quality, sewage treatment, conservation and use of water resources, and provision of adequate water and sewerage services.
- Genetic Modification, including research reports.
- Environmental Appeals - Scottish Ministers are responsible for making decisions on environmental appeals (challenges against regulatory actions taken by, for example, Scottish Environment Protection Agency). Information on how to raise an appeal and how such appeals are processed is available on the relevant website.
- Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA): SEA is a key component of sustainable development establishing important methods for protecting the environment and extending the opportunities for public participation in plan decision making. The site includes:
The SEA Tool Kit - offers Responsible Authorities SEA guidance and templates.
Links to the relevant SEA legislation, including the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Pre-screening register - the list of plans, programmes and strategies that have been judged to have no or minimal effects, in terms of the environment by the Responsible Authority.
SEA Annual Report - Produced for the Scottish Parliament annually, outlining the level of SEA activity in Scotland.
SEA training opportunities within the UK.
- Water Environment: information is available on protection of the water environment in Scotland, including publications on the Water Framework Directive (WFD), Shellfish Waters, Bathing Waters, Nitrate Vulnerable Zones, Oil Storage and Diffuse Pollution.
- Statistics
High Level Summary of Statistics Trends -
This covers key indicators for the following sectors:
- Global Atmosphere
- Air Quality
- Water
- Land
- Biodiversity
- Marine
- Waste
Statistical Publications -
This includes the following regular statistical publications.
Survey / Publication | Content | Frequency | Publication Method |
Key Scottish Environment Statistics | This publication presents charts and summary tables for approximately 40 data sets, topics covered include Public Attitudes, Global Atmosphere, Air Quality, Water, Marine, Radioactivity, Waste, Land and Biodiversity. | Annual | Stats News Release
Hard copy distribution
Web publication. |
Scottish Environment Statistics Online | This is an online database containing data on the following topics: Climate Change and the Ozone Layer, Air Quality, Noise Pollution, Inland Water Quality and Use, Coastal and Marine Waters, Waste and Recycling, Public Attitudes, Radioactivity, Land, Conservation and Biodiversity. | Updated continuously | Web Data Tables |
- Scotstat Natural Environment Committee
Documentation from the Scotstat Natural Environment Committee of external stakeholders is published on the Scotstat pages of the Scottish Government website:
Where the information within this class can be located
This class of information can be located within the ' Environment' section of the Scottish Government website or through one of the alternative routes described under section 5 of this scheme.