A healthy society and economy depends on a healthy and productive environment. What we currently have is an inefficient and wasteful society, depleting the natural resources upon which it is based and undermining the long-term economic potential of the country.
This is literally unsustainable, and it also threatens our ability to adapt to the future impacts of global climate change. Greens want to build a society that cares for its environment and the natural world that supports it. Failure to respect the environment reduces our quality of life, harms livelihoods and cheats future generations. We support sensitive stewardship of our natural resources, to leave our children’s children a legacy of clean air, pure water, fertile farmland, abundant forests, vibrant urban green spaces and plentiful wildlife.
Scotland’s land reform agenda has begun to address some of the historical inequalities of land distribution. Using the modest land reform legislation of recent years, some rural communities, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, have bought their land and set inspiring examples of regeneration. We want to keep up this momentum and extend the land reform legislation to create new opportunities for urban and rural communities.
Greens want a better relationship between farmers and society that rewards farmers for managing our environment and growing healthy food. We will continue to support farmers who apply sustainable environmental practice at home and abroad.
Grow-your-own schemes also have a much greater role to play, and provide exercise, education and community spirit as well as healthy food. Sadly there are long waiting lists for allotments in many areas, and some local authorities have none at all. There’s also a huge amount of publicly owned land which could be brought back into productive use.
Greens support well-regulated, sustainable aquaculture and fisheries. We acknowledge the sacrifices made in recent years by fishermen and their communities and recognise that there are signs of recovery which should not be undermined. We will put in place a fishing community regeneration plan with the health of fish stocks at its heart, redirecting fisheries subsidies towards recovery and putting in place a long-term fisheries management policy to revive stocks and secure fishing communities.
Cruelty to animals is unacceptable. We recognise the links between animal cruelty and human violence and believe there should be more formal recognition of these links. Greens will tighten and enforce the regulations on wildlife crime and animal cruelty and on the management of animal sanctuaries, livery yards, zoos, pet shops and the sale of animals over the internet.
A healthy society and economy depends on a healthy and productive environment. What we currently have is an inefficient and wasteful society, depleting the natural resources upon which it is based and undermining the long-term economic potential of the country.
This is literally unsustainable, and it also threatens our ability to adapt to the future impacts of global climate change. Greens want to build a society that cares for its environment and the natural world that supports it. Failure to respect the environment reduces our quality of life, harms livelihoods and cheats future generations. We support sensitive stewardship of our natural resources, to leave our children’s children a legacy of clean air, pure water, fertile farmland, abundant forests, vibrant urban green spaces and plentiful wildlife.