Question reference: S6W-23053
- Date lodged: 17 November 2023
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Current status: Answered by Lorna Slater on 4 December 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to align with the EU's Nature Restoration Law.
Answer
Scotland and the EU share a high ambition for nature, and are both putting in place the actions required to meet the targets set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed in December 2022. The EU’s provisional agreement on nature restoration seeks to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea.
In line with Scottish Government’s commitment to maintain and enhance environmental standards, we have our own ambitious commitment to protect 30% of our land and sea for nature by 2030 (30 by 30).
Our Scottish Biodiversity Strategy sets out our ambition to halt nature loss by 2030 and restore Scotland’s natural environment by 2045.
Our strategy will be supported by the introduction of a Natural Environment Bill which will introduce a framework for statutory nature recovery restoration targets. In developing those targets we will take into account the position in the EU.
We are currently consulting on key elements of the overall Biodiversity Framework, including the Biodiversity Strategy, the first 5 year Delivery Plan, proposals for the Natural Environment Bill, and as set of principles to guide delivery of key commitments including 30 by 30 and nature networks.