Greens secure vital protections for Scotland’s nature
Plans tabled by the Scottish Greens to remove the Scottish Government’s right to pick apart nature protections has passed in the current stage of the Natural Environment Bill.
Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell secured changes to the Bill via an amendment to remove Part 2 of the Bill.
This would have given the Scottish Government unprecedented and sweeping powers to pick apart the nature protections that keep our habitats and species protected from harm.
Mark said:
“I am delighted that my colleagues across the Parliament supported my amendment to ensure that no government can run roughshod over our nature protections. This is a win for nature.
“This bill would have given all future governments huge and un-precedented powers to re-write laws that have protected nature for generations. It's right that parliament has agreed to my amendments today to remove Part 2 and that Ministers will now have to re-think a major part of this bill before it returns to parliament.
“Our natural world is our shared wealth, but Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries on earth, and it is our duty to change that. This act is an opportunity for us to secure greater protections for nature, not less.
“The Scottish Government could not justify why they needed such extreme and extensive new powers and none of the environmental experts who gave evidence to the committee supported them.
“No government should be given sweeping powers to remove protections as they see fit. They should be doing more to protect our vital habitats and species that play their part in maintaining our environment.
“Stripping away our nature protections will open the door to the rich and the powerful who are trying to exploit our land and seas.
"Our nature protections work, it's important they are safeguarded for future generations. There needs to be a cross party discussion on how we can maintain EU alignment and future proof these protections while not opening them up to being watered down completely."