The SNP are committed to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, which are among the most important challenges of this generation. Tackling them is central to our green recovery from Covid-19.
Scotland is leading the world in our move to end climate change and restore biodiversity in Scotland. We were the first country in the UK to declare a climate emergency and have since passed legislation for the world’s most ambitious emissions reduction targets.
The high-level statement of intent on biodiversity, published in December, set out the SNP Government’s ambition, including a commitment to protect at least 30% of our land for nature, as well as the 37% of our seas that are already protected. The statement of intent commits to commissioning advice on whether Scotland can go even further than this.
Securing the future benefits that nature provides to people is at the heart of our efforts to stem the decline in biodiversity loss. The biodiversity statement of intent, includes a strong focus on the role of local communities alongside a commitment to engage with stakeholders in the development of a new biodiversity strategy and associated action plan.
In Government, the SNP has committed to raising the bar of global leadership, looking afresh at everything that we do and ensuring that our actions produce the transformative change that is needed.
The statement of intent on biodiversity sets the direction for a new biodiversity strategy in the next Parliament which will respond to the increased urgency for action to tackle the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
Fiona Hyslop