221 results
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Developing an ecosystem restoration code for Scotland
In the 2024 Natural Capital Market Framework, the Scottish Government (SG) committed to supporting the development of an Ecosystem Restoration Code (ERC) for Scotland as a new high-integrity market mechanism that could attract responsible private investment into nature restoration and biodiversity projects. This commitment is being delivered in 2025 via an SG-NatureScot partnership project. SG has published an Engagement Paper which summarises the results of the Discovery Phase of the... MoreClosed 7 July 2025 -
Community right to buy: review
The Community Right to Buy, introduced in Scotland in 2003, has empowered rural, urban, and crofting communities to acquire land and assets. The Scottish Government is consulting as part of a review aimed at simplifying the process and exploring improvements. The Scottish Government committed to a public consultation on Community Rights to Buy in the Programme for Government 2024 to 2025 . Through this consultation, the Scottish Government wants to understand how these... MoreOpened 7 July 2025 -
A review of Scotland's shellfish water protected area designations
This consultation is on the on the proposed designations and de-designations of Shellfish Water Protected Area’s (SWPAs), as part of work to meet a statutory obligation. SWPAs are designated zones aimed at safeguarding shellfish waters from pollution, ensuring the sustainable development of economically significant shellfish production. The purpose of the review is to identify areas where it may be appropriate to designate a new SWPA or de-designate... MoreOpened 7 July 2025 -
Draft Environment Strategy
The draft Environment Strategy sets out a holistic framework for delivering Scotland’s role in tackling the global crises of nature loss, climate change and pollution. It brings together the Scottish Government’s existing policy response, highlighting the importance of carefully managing synergies and trade-offs. It builds on these existing policies by outlining new priorities and proposals. These focus, in particular, on opportunities for supporting the economic and societal changes... MoreOpened 3 July 2025 -
Pathway Action Plans for Invasive Non-native Species
We want your views on five Pathway Action Plans to reduce the risk of invasive non-native species spreading in Great Britain. What the plans cover The plans focus on stopping invasive species from spreading through: recreational boating and angling - preventing species moving between waterways horticulture - stopping invasive garden plants and soil contaminants spreading zoos - preventing animals escaping from zoos or wildlife parks pets - stopping released or... MoreOpened 23 June 2025 -
Update to the 2020 Offshore Wind Policy Statement: Scotland’s Offshore Wind ambition
The outlook for offshore wind in Scotland has changed since the original Offshore Wind Policy Statement was published in 2020, which outlined an ambition that Scotland's 2GW of operational and under construction offshore wind capacity at the time could grow to between 8GW and 11GW by 2030. Since then, there has been a significant increase in the number of potential offshore wind developments due to the ScotWind and the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing rounds. ... MoreOpened 18 June 2025 -
Scotland's Census 2031 - Topics
The National Records of Scotland (NRS), on behalf of the Registrar General for Scotland, is responsible for conducting Scotland’s census. These statistics are of national strategic importance and bring a wide range of benefits to Scotland. Census statistics provide an accurate picture of Scotland’s population including its size, distribution, and demographics. Our statistics inform policy making, enabling government agencies to make decisions regarding funding for services... MoreOpened 17 June 2025 -
Changes to waste management services
The Scottish Government is launching the Changes to Waste Management Consultation and the Call for Evidence (CfE) on the potential extension of the upcoming ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste. The first of these consultation topics is a review of the rural food waste exemption that permits local authorities not to collect food waste from locations classified as being rural if collections are not economically viable. We want to know if the exemption, which has existed since... MoreClosed 17 June 2025 -
Future of the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund
The Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF) is a voluntary tax credit scheme linked to the Scottish Landfill Tax (SLfT). The fund was established to mirror the UK Landfill Tax Communities Fund when SLfT was introduced in 2015 and provides funding for community or environmental projects in recognition of the dis-amenity of landfill activity. The continued reduction in landfilled waste in Scotland means that SLfT revenue is declining. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency... MoreClosed 6 June 2025 -
Private Rented Sector (PRS) Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES)
This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Government's proposals to introduce Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) regulations in the domestic Private Rented Sector (PRS) using existing powers within in the Energy Act 2011. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings has been a priority for Scottish Ministers for over a decade, with draft Energy Efficiency (Domestic Private Rented Property) (Scotland) Regulations consulted on in 2019 and then laid before Scottish Parliament... MoreOpened 6 June 2025 -
Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment (HEETSA) - Scoping Consultation
The purpose of this Scoping Consultation is to set out the Scottish Government’s initial proposals for the scope of a Heat and Energy Efficiency Technical Suitability Assessment ( HEETSA) and seek stakeholder views on the overall concept of HEETSA and how it relates to other parts of the heat and energy efficiency retrofit landscape. The Scottish Government’s objective in making these initial proposals is to safeguard consumers by developing a technical suitability... MoreOpened 6 June 2025 -
Environmental Standards Scotland Strategy 2026-2031
Environmental Standard Scotland (ESS) is an independent public body, established by the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021. ESS monitors compliance with, and the effectiveness of, environmental law in Scotland. Our role is to hold local authorities to account to improve the quality of the environment in Scotland and help achieve the highest environmental standards. This consultation is seeking views and comments on ESS’ draft Strategy... MoreOpened 4 June 2025 -
Draft Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy
Sectoral Marine Planning provides a framework for the sustainable development of offshore wind energy in Scotland’s marine environment. The draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) sets out an integrated planning framework for both the ScotWind and INTOG leasing rounds alongside consideration of additional capacity for test and demonstration (T&D) projects. It has been informed by the latest scientific evidence and sets out the opportunities as well... MoreOpened 30 May 2025 -
Climate change duties - draft statutory guidance for public bodies: consultation
The Scottish Government is gathering views to help inform new Statutory Guidance for public bodies, to support them in putting the climate change duties into practice. The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (‘the 2009 Act’) places duties on relevant public bodies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to delivery of the Scottish National Adaptation Plan, and to act in the most sustainable way. These duties are known as the climate change duties, or the public bodies... MoreClosed 23 May 2025 -
Draft Just Transition Plan for Transport
Between now and 2045, we need to transform how we travel in Scotland. Currently, transport accounts for the largest share of our greenhouse gas emissions. That needs to change, and the sector needs to decarbonise, in order for us to achieve net zero. We can and must cut emissions by changing how people, goods, and services, move around our country and beyond, but we aim to do so in a way that is fair and just. Therefore, we are consulting on the first draft Just Transition Plan... MoreClosed 19 May 2025 -
Scottish Energy Performance Certificate Register Lodgement Fees and Penalty Charges
This technical consultation builds upon previous Scottish Government consultations on EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) Reform in 2021 and 2023. The Scottish Government has issued its response to the 2023 consultation in January 2025, which sets out our final decisions on EPC Reform prior to laying new EPC Regulations in Parliament later during 2025. We plan to bring the new Regulations into force in the second half of 2026, to align with the introduction of the UK Home Energy Model... MoreClosed 28 March 2025 -
Rural Delivery Plan: vision, strategic objectives and key performance indicators
Why are we writing a Rural Delivery Plan? The Scottish Government is committed to publishing a plan setting out how all parts of the Scottish Government are delivering for Scotland’s rural communities, by the end of the current Parliament. This is a key opportunity to take a fresh look at how we can work together to bring about change and address the issues that we face in rural Scotland. The Rural Delivery Plan will act as a framework to consider the full breadth of policy... MoreClosed 17 March 2025 -
Draft Implementation Plan: Vision for Scotland's public electric vehicle charging network
Transport Scotland recently published a draft Implementation Plan that outlines the key actions that will deliver Scotland's previously published Vision for public electric vehicle (EV) charging . Transport Scotland are holding a public consultation to seek views on the draft Implementation Plan which sets out the proposed actions to deliver Scotland’s Vision for public EV charging infrastructure. Scotland’s Vision for a public EV charging... MoreClosed 14 March 2025 -
National Marine Plan 2 Planning Position Statement
Scotland adopted its first National Marine Plan in 2015 to help manage the use of Scotland’s seas in a sustainable way. In 2022 work began to create an updated national marine plan, to better reflect how the sea is currently being used, and to plan for its continued and sustainable future use. Past, present and future challenges mean we need to make the right choices for our shared marine space. A Planning Position Statement (PPS) summarising all that work has now been... MoreClosed 7 February 2025 -
Proposals to amend Scottish Government policy on the protection afforded to certain Ramsar features
This consultation seeks views on proposed changes to Scottish Government policy on the protection of Ramsar sites, to treat them in the same way as European sites for the purposes of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal process. Read the consultation paper As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't... MoreClosed 7 February 2025 -
Draft Grangemouth Just Transition Plan: call for stakeholder views
Consultation is an essential part of the policymaking process. It gives us the opportunity to consider your opinion and expertise on a proposed area of work. We are seeking views on the proposed vision and Just Transition Plan for the Grangemouth Industrial Cluster, which we have set out in the draft document. We want the views of community, business, third sector and all those with an interest in Grangemouth to shape the final publication of the Grangemouth Just Transition Plan in... MoreClosed 6 February 2025 -
Environmental Protection (Single-Use Vapes) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 - fixed penalty notice amendment: consultation
Environmental Protection (Injurious Articles) (Fixed Penalty Notices and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2025: Consultation on amendments to introduce Fixed Penalty Notices for offences under the Single-use Vapes Regulations, the Single-use Plastic Products Regulations, the Cotton Buds Regulations and the Microbeads Regulations and to make other amendments to the Single-use Vapes Regulations including a change to the coming into force date On the 18th September 2024, the... MoreClosed 9 January 2025 -
Charging for single-use disposable beverage cups
Day-to-day, we see the impacts the climate emergency and nature crises has on our communities, society, economic wellbeing, and environment – both here in Scotland and globally. Addressing these fundamental challenges is something we must all tackle together, and how we view and treat our resources is integral to tackling them. Around four-fifths of Scotland’s carbon footprint comes from the products and services we manufacture, use and throw away. While progress has been... MoreClosed 14 November 2024 -
Building Regulations: Determining the principles for a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard: Stage 1 consultation
Scottish building regulations set minimum standards applicable to new buildings and to new work to existing buildings. This consultation is the first of two which will consider the technical, commercial and wider policy implications of improvements to building regulations in the context of broader action by the Scottish Government on climate change, to further our ambition of becoming a net-zero society by 2045. In December 2022 the then Minister for Zero... MoreClosed 23 October 2024 -
Fisheries Management Measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
Scottish Ministers have committed to delivering fisheries management measures for existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where these are not already in place. This is in line with the Scottish Government's vision for the marine environment, for clean, healthy, safe, productive and diverse seas; managed to meet the long term needs of nature and people. This consultation is seeking views and comments on fisheries management options for 20 protected areas in the offshore marine... MoreClosed 14 October 2024 -
Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2025 season
We are seeking views on the proposed river gradings for the 2025 fishing season, which have been calculated from the annual assessment of the conservation status of wild Atlantic salmon populations in rivers across Scotland. An additional aim for the current year is to gather views on a suggested amendment of the Annan district annual close time under the Conservation of Salmon (Annual Close Time and Catch and Release) (Scotland) Regulations 2014. Read the consultation... MoreClosed 8 September 2024 -
Flood Resilience Strategy: consultation
As part of Scotland’s National Adaptation Plan and our wider Just Transition commitments, the Scottish Government is developing a Flood Resilience Strategy which will focus on what we need to do to make our communities more flood resilient over the coming decades. Scotland’s climate has changed significantly and will continue to change for decades to come. Our biggest climate challenge is adapting to our increased exposure to flooding and responding to the impacts... MoreClosed 13 August 2024 -
Developing a natural capital market framework: survey
Natural capital is our geology, soil, air, water, plants and animals. We depend on our natural capital for goods and services that make our lives possible and worthwhile. Public and private investment will be needed to restore and improve our natural capital. We are committed to ensuring that this investment is responsible; that it contributes to a just transition, benefits communities and achieves robust environmental outcomes. Our forthcoming Natural Capital... MoreClosed 12 July 2024 -
Call for evidence: phasing out the use of cages in the gamebird and quail sectors
The Scottish Government is committed to improving animal welfare and announced a Programme for Government Commitment for 2023/2024 to consult on the phasing out of cages for gamebirds. Before consulting more widely on specific proposals, the Scottish Government seeks to expand its understanding of the gamebird industry and has taken the opportunity to include quail egg and meat production in Scotland, especially the extent to which cages are used for housing egg-laying... MoreClosed 12 July 2024 -
Consultation on a proposal to phase out the use of cages in Scotland’s laying hen sector
The Scottish Government is committed to improving the welfare of laying hens by addressing the issue of confinement, so that birds have the freedoms to exhibit their normal behaviours. The 2021 and 2023 Programmes for Government made several animal welfare commitments, including to consult stakeholders on phasing out the use of cages for laying hens and gamebirds. This drive to ban cages reflects a demand from society to move to more ethical production systems. The... MoreClosed 25 June 2024
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