Responding to the Call for evidence on Scotland’s Natural Environment Bill

The Rural Affairs and Islands Committee is seeking views on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, which was introduced by the Scottish Government on the 19th of February 2025.

This CIEEM news item on the Natural Environment Bill gives details of the 4 key parts of the bill which cover statutory biodiversity targets, deer management and National Parks, but also potentially sweeping powers to change the key environmental protections in the EIA and Habitats Regulations. It is this latter area (Part 2) of the Bill that we have been actively scrutinising and have most concern over.

CIEEM attended the first evidence session of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee (meeting agenda and minutes here). We have been working closely with Scottish Environment LINK partners who have drafted a letter to Cabinet Secretary, Mairi Gougeon MSP, outlining our concerns and we are collectively drafting amendments to what is laid out in the Bill.

What does this mean for you?  If you would like to input any views/evidence to the Call for Evidence or would just like to find out more please get in touch with the policy team via policy@cieem.net