Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland

Community Wealth Building isn’t new – Scotland’s communities have been doing it for years - Scottish Community Alliance With the Community Wealth Building Bill due to complete Stage 1 this Thursday, Scotland need only look to its communities to see what becomes possible when people are given the power and resources to ...

Communities are already building community wealth across Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

As the Scottish Government’s Community Wealth Building Bill progresses this week, it presents a vital opportunity. But it must empower the people already leading the way.

www.scottishcommunityalliance.org.uk/news/communi...

Clean Up Scotland's Sewage has over 300 signatures!

⚠️ Last week, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland reported that Scottish Water is off track with improving sewer overflows which cause pollution or are in breach of their permit.

Join in calling for action: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

Why do we need targets for nature recovery? 🎯🌱
climate goals, legally binding nature targets are crucial for Scotland to drive real investment & strategic restoration. Past efforts fell short without them. It's time for decisive leadership!

Read more: www.scotlandlovesnature.scot/we-need-natu...

"Dear Scottish Government, No one wants sewage in our waters. You don't want it. I don't want it. No one wants it. And yet, apparently this thing no one wants is too much of an effort to deal with.

In years of volunteering along the Water of Leith, I have picked hundreds of wet wipes out of trees. And swimming in the Forth has made me sick too many times. No one wants this. It's worth the effort - and cost - to fix it for our future."

On Saturday at Leith Market, we asked what you wanted to say to the Scottish Government about sewage pollution.

Here's Alice's message ⬇️

Sign the petition: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

@snp.org @scottishlabour.bsky.social @scotlibdems.org.uk @scottishgreens.org @scottories.bsky.social

We want to clean up Scotland's sewage - here's how ⬇️

There is clear evidence that our sewer system is no longer fit for purpose. We are calling all Scottish parties to make clean water a priority in their election manifestos.

Join us by signing the petition: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

‘Toothless’ sewage enforcement sparks calls for national clean-water plan in Scotland Experts warn Scotland’s sewage enforcement is “toothless”, urging a national plan to fix pollution, improve monitoring and protect communities.

Yesterday, @vickyallan.bsky.social wrote about the campaign to Clean Up Scotland's Sewage in @heraldscotland.bsky.social.

Get up to speed on how sewage pollution has become an issue, why communities are struggling with it & what must be done: www.heraldscotland.com/news/2563820...

We've been blown away by your support for Clean Up Scotland's Sewage!

Thank you to everyone who joined our launch at Edinburgh on Saturday and has already signed the petition.

🌊 Add your name here: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

Today RAAG joined @sosleith.bsky.social to launch @ercscot.bsky.social national campaign to Clean Up Scotland’s Sewage. We demand that we stop dumping sewage into Scotland’s beautiful waterways. Add your voice by signing the petition at www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

Sign the petition to Clean Up Scotland's Sewage!

Today, we are at Leith Market in Edinburgh with River Almond Action Group and SOSLeith to launch a new national campaign to tackle sewage pollution in Scotland and protect our right to a healthy environment.

Sign: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

Is climate emergency planning inclusive of disabled people?

Together with Inclusion Scotland and the Sensing Climate Project, we looked at Scotland's climate and emergency planning policies and listened to disabled people.

Read a summary of the work so far.

www.ercs.scot/news/disabil...

One in nine species in Scotland is at risk of extinction. We can change this. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
The Natural Environment Bill is our chance to set binding targets to restore nature.
Take 30 seconds to email your MSPs here: scotlink.eaction.online/targets

#Scotland #NatureRestoration #NaturalEnvironmentBill

A healthy planet, a fair society: new UN guidance links human rights and the environment | Just Fair In December 2024, Just Fair co-ordinated a joint response from members of the UK ESCR Network to a call for evidence from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (the Committee) on sustainable development. We worked with Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Opportunity Green, Dr Koldo Casla and the […]

🌎 A healthy planet is a human right.

The UN has now made it clear: there's no social justice on a dying planet.

Our joint blog w/ @foeint.bsky.social @opportunitygreen.org
@ercscot.bsky.social and @koldocasla.bsky.social

On Monday, ERCS will participate in the Global Day of Action for #ClimateJustice, coinciding with COP30 in Brazil.

We will be hosting one hour of @lsca.bsky.social's
25 hr virtual gathering, which will span time zones & connect campaigners across the world.

Sign-up now: tinyurl.com/3bmnsw77

A healthy planet, a fair society: new UN guidance links human rights and the environment | Just Fair In December 2024, Just Fair co-ordinated a joint response from members of the UK ESCR Network to a call for evidence from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (the Committee) on sustainable development. We worked with Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Opportunity Green, Dr Koldo Casla and the […]

🌎 A healthy planet is a human right.

The UN has now made it clear: there's no social justice on a dying planet.

Our joint blog w/ @foeint.bsky.social @opportunitygreen.org
@ercscot.bsky.social and @koldocasla.bsky.social

We need legally-binding targets to drive Scotland's nature recovery We know that Scotland’s nature is in serious trouble - but we know how to fix it

It’s hard to imagine a more important task than restoring nature, which sustains our very lives and is our only home. By supporting real action through the Natural Environment Bill, our politicians can show us that at last they’re starting to make nature a priority.

www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

A month ago, we gathered with friends and colleagues to celebrate ERCS's fifth birthday - and share our plans for the future.

Read more in our blog: www.ercs.scot/news/celebra...

ERCS today launches our new Advocacy Manifesto, offering a route map for political parties to protect human rights, improve access to justice and strengthen environmental governance.

Read more: www.ercs.scot/news/ercs-ad...

#advocacy #environmentalrights #lawreform #accesstojustice

We're pleased that the @parliament.scot Rural Affairs and Islands Committee has backed proposals in the Natural Environment Bill to introduce statutory targets to restore nature.

Nature targets are a key demand of our Scotland Loves Nature campaign.

Read more:
www.scotlink.org/msps-back-na...

Two billboards side by side which state "1 in 9 species in Scotland is at risk of extinction. We need our MSPs to act now!"

🚨BILLBOARD MESSAGE DEMANDS MSPS ACT NOW TO SAVE NATURE 🚨

A pair of billboards appeared on Edinburgh’s busy Market Street today with an urgent message for Scotland’s MSPs.

With 1 in 9 species in Scotland at risk of extinction, MSPs must act now!

www.scotlandlovesnature.scot/billboard-me...

We have had 500 enquiries to ERCS's free legal advice service!

Read our snapshot to see who, where and what environmental issues people in Scotland are seeking legal advice on.

Snapshot of advice service – 500 enquiries www.ercs.scot/resources/sn...

Last month, Juliet Swann joined our webinar to speak about how Scotland's lobbying laws could be strengthened - looking forward to continuing the conversation at this event next week.

Sign up: www.transparency.org.uk/events/lobby...
Our webinar on lobbying: www.ercs.scot/news/lobbyin...

Speakers at the Festival of Politics panel event on environmental justice: Sarah Boyack MSP, Professor Jill Belch, Dr Shivali Fifield, David Lintott and Henry Swithinbank.

Last week, we joined #FoP2025 to discuss environmental justice. Thank you to all the brilliant speakers and organisers!

We left reflecting on how much people care about their environment & the growing awareness that we need better accountability from public bodies to hold polluters to account.

Who gets a say? Environmental justice and the law - Buy tickets Explore how the law can give people more power and a greater say in environmental decisions.

Join us tomorrow at the Scottish Parliament's Festival of Politics, where our Chief Officer Dr Shivali Fifield will speak as part of a panel on environmental justice and the law.

> When: Wednesday 20 August, 10:30-11:45am
> Where: The Scottish Parliament
> Tickets: tikt.link/environmenta...

The Climate Action Leadership Programme is a great opportunity for young people in Scotland to build skills around climate leadership and action - and completely free.

You still have time to apply, find out more here 👇🏽

www.2050.scot/calp

Last week, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark Advisory Opinion on States' obligations regarding climate change.

This was a pivotal moment for all those seeking to uphold the right to a healthy environment - but what does it mean for Scotland?

Read our blog: tinyurl.com/2z2u9a5x

Healthy environment a human right, UN court says in landmark climate ruling Court’s decision expected to be used in future litigation and to support political negotiations by vulnerable states

Today's ruling by the International Court of Justice confirms our right to a healthy environment, as "a precondition for the enjoyment of many human rights, such as the right to life".

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

This is one of my pet peeves. And for good reason! It's completely unnecessary and damaging to health and the environment.

Thanks @ercscot.bsky.social for taking action on this. 💚

Image shows car traffic releasing toxic exhaust fumes, with the blog title overlaid stating 'You must be choking: Little appetite from the Scottish Government to combat air pollution from engine idling'

We are calling on the Scottish Government
to strengthen the ban on engine idling, which releases toxic exhaust fumes into the air.

So far they've refused - but change is in the air.

Read more: www.ercs.scot/blog/you-mus...

#pollution #campaigns #publichealth #airquality

ERCS logo and the text: 'June newsletter'.

In ERCS's June newsletter, our Chief Officer Shivali Fifield writes about how we can stand up to the bullies.

Read the newsletter: www.ercs.scot/news/ercs-ju...
Sign up to our mailing list: www.ercs.scot/mailing-list/