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SECTION 3 - A GREENER SCOTLAND
A Greener Scotland: Improve Scotland's natural and built environment and the sustainable use and enjoyment of it.
Scotland's environment provides great opportunities to help make us a world-class economy and an international model for sustainable living. We made a good start during our first year in government in dealing with issues that required immediate attention to underpin Scotland's international standing and in beginning to restore strong sustainable rural communities and give them a fair deal.
- We achieved an historic deal at annual European fisheries talks, ensuring Scotland has control over its own days at sea. Our conservation credit scheme received international recognition and we are setting the European standard on how to fish sustainably.
- Our rural communities have the capacity to be a powerhouse for sustainability for the whole country. Their potential has long been untapped. We are starting to set this right by supporting and strengthening rural communities through the Scotland Rural Development Programme.
- We have taken the right decisions to promote opportunity for communities in different parts of Scotland. For example, we responded to local calls to include Highland Perthshire in the Cairngorms National Park and we propose to include Arran and parts of Moray and Nairn in the crofting areas.
- We made an announcement on waste policy following a summit with local authorities and other interested parties. This announcement set challenging targets to achieve our radical vision of moving towards a zero waste society which minimises waste and treats waste that is produced as a resource. We have established a new partnership with local government to achieve these targets. We also announced a review of the National Waste Plan and established a zero waste think tank to harness independent, expert advice and we are consulting on possible waste provisions that might be included in the Scottish Climate Change Bill.
We are keen to build consensus around achieving a Greener Scotland and to look afresh with key partners at some of the difficult issues, including those that have been neglected or are now of more critical importance.
- We held the first ever Scottish Summit on Flooding in September. By bringing together relevant experts and those with key interests, we started discussions around managing flood risk in ways that best suit Scotland's needs and are considered best practice in the 21st Century.
- With the topics of food scarcity and pricing making headlines around the world, our National Food Discussion launched in January is very timely. Scotland produces a range of food and drink that is both healthy and affordable, and our food and drink industry contributes greatly to our economy. It is time we turned our attention to making the best of these resources, and delivered the freshest, finest future for Scottish food and drink. That is why we announced in June the next steps for the first ever national Food and Drink Policy, setting out our aim that Scotland becomes known for the quality, healthiness and sustainability of its produce.
The social partnership approach will continue to be an essential element of our work over the coming year, as we look to address challenges and expand opportunities. For example, we worked closely with the fishing industry in the preparation of the conservation credits scheme and the Shucksmith Inquiry engaged crofters the length and breadth of the crofting counties in formulating a vision for crofting in the 21st Century. It is our intention to continue extensive engagement with the full range of stakeholders:
- We pledged last year to introduce legislation to modernise the current law on flood prevention. The Scottish Summit on Flooding was part of the preparation for this, as was consultation on our bill proposals, providing wide opportunities for the views of the public, industry experts, local authorities and others to help shape the future of flooding legislation in Scotland. Having also considered the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee's recent report on its flooding inquiry, we published a report on the consultation in June, and plan to bring forward the Flood Risk Management Bill in September.
- We are committed to introducing a new law for Scotland's marine environment. The Sustainable Seas Task Force, which includes partners and people with an interest in the use and conservation of our seas, helped us develop proposals for a Marine Bill, forming the basis of a consultation that was launched in July.
- We shall act on the findings of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting chaired by Professor Shucksmith and expect to consult next year on draft legislation to implement the Government's proposals in response.
Taking responsibility is nowhere more crucial than in relation to the environment. We each have a duty to think about the impact we make upon the world around us, ensuring that it can sustain and be enjoyed by our children and future generations. But people don't want to be lectured; they want practical information and support to decide what new options they can choose for themselves. As a government, we have begun to take the necessary and ambitious steps forward that will allow people across Scotland to play a full part in meeting the global climate change challenge.
Climate change |
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Climate change is one of the most serious threats facing Scotland and the world. Scotland was in the vanguard of the Industrial Revolution: emissions from industry are the primary source of human-induced climate change. Scotland is, therefore, under a moral imperative to take early action to reduce its emissions and move the country towards a low carbon economy. Our commitment to reduce Scotland's emissions over the period to 2011 and, in the longer term, by 80% by 2050 demonstrates our resolve to play our part in tackling climate change. These targets were incorporated in the Government Economic Strategy in support of the Government's Purpose. The longer-term target will be placed into law through the Scottish Climate Change Bill and will play our part in the UK's effort to reduce emissions by 60% by 2050. Climate change is already being felt in Scotland, and many of the impacts will continue to be unavoidable over the next 30 to 40 years due to past and present emissions. It is therefore essential that we take action to ensure Scotland is prepared to cope with such impacts. We launched a consultation paper in June, Adapting Our Ways: Managing Scotland's Climate Risk to help inform the development of a Climate Change Adaptation Framework for Scotland. |
- We believe Scotland can lead the world in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We proposed that we reduce Scottish emissions by 80% by 2050, as part of our consultation on the Scottish Climate Change Bill.
- Our Scottish Futures Trust will play an important role in ensuring that our investment in public buildings delivers greener buildings.
- We introduced practical measures to encourage people to embrace change in their everyday lives. The Climate Challenge Fund will help communities reduce their carbon footprint. This is backed up by information on how people can change their behaviour, through the 10 Steps to Greener Scotland campaign, which we will continue to promote and develop by working in partnership with others including Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage. The campaign aims to encourage, inform and reward environmentally-responsible behaviour as well as providing routes to further advice and practical support to help people make more sustainable life choices across society in Scotland.
Together, these actions will help us to achieve a greener Scotland, and one where we will be better placed to share success across all our communities.
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