Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Scottish Biodiversity Strategy
Background
In June 2022, the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee agreed to scrutinise biodiversity policy and proposals for the Scottish Government's new national biodiversity strategy.
The strategy is the first substantive update of Scotland's biodiversity policy since 2013. It is intended to be the starting point of a process which will lead to the development of rolling delivery plans and, through the introduction of a Natural Environment Bill, statutory nature restoration targets.
COP15
In December 2022 Governments and stakeholders gathered in Montreal, Canada, for the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15). At this summit, a new global framework was agreed for tackling the nature emergency. The Scottish Government formed part of the UK’s official delegation at COP15, at which it published a revised draft of its Biodiversity Strategy and said it will further refine the strategy to embed new targets agreed.
As part of its scrutiny of biodiversity policy in Scotland, the Committee agreed to examine the outcomes of COP15 and how they relate to the Scottish context. The Committee has gathered evidence on this issue by hearing from a panel of Scottish and UK-based experts on biodiversity policy and holding an evidence session with the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.
Scottish Biodiversity Strategy – draft Delivery Plan
In September 2023, the Scottish Government published for consultation a draft Delivery Plan to set out actions behind the high-level policy intentions set out in the Strategy. The Committee decided to take evidence on the draft Plan, recognising the importance of having an effective plan to deliver the Strategy.
Tackling the Nature Emergency - strategic framework for biodiversity: consultation (www.gov.scot)
The Committee held two evidence sessions on the draft Plan: one with experts in marine biodiversity on 12 December 2023, and one with experts on terrestrial biodiversity on 6 January 2024.
The Committee will write to the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity to set out its findings to help inform the Scottish Government’s thinking before it finalises the Delivery Plan.
Timetable
6 September 2022
The Committee held evidence sessions with two panels of stakeholders involved in nature conservation in the marine and terrestrial environments.
27 September 2022
The Committee considered a draft letter to the Scottish Government.
7 March 2023
The Committee held an evidence session with key stakeholders to discuss the outcomes of COP15 as they relate to Scottish biodiversity policy.
14 March 2023
The Committee took evidence from the Scottish Government.
12 December 2023
The Committee held an evidence session with experts on marine biodiversity policy and discussed the draft Delivery Plan.
9 January 2024
The Committee held an evidence session with experts on terrestrial biodiversity policy and discussed the draft Delivery Plan.
Read the Convener's letter to the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 29 September 2022 (252KB, pdf) posted 29 September 2022
Read the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity's response to the Convener, 1 November 2022 (352KB, pdf) posted 04 November 2022