Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland

Dear Scottish Government, It’s concerning that there are still so many spills into the sea from the local rivers and pipelines which make it unsafe to swim at our local seasides.

Swimming in the sea is such a wonderful thing to do but we risk getting sick because companies aren’t managing their waste . Why can’t cleaner sea be a priority? - Dorinda"

This postcard is by Dorinda, about sewage pollution at Portobello Beach in Edinburgh.

➡️ Add yours to our map of Scotland: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

Debris along the shoreline at Cramond from water flowing into the Firth of Forth from the River Almond.

Pollution flowing into the Firth of Forth from the River Almond at Cramond and debris along the shoreline.

➡️ Read the full postcard by @edinburghshoreline.bsky.social in our map of Scotland: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

🔎Hear from ERCS's Preslava Todorova on how to effectively draft Freedom of Information requests to obtain the information you need, how to challenge and appeal decisions, and the role of the Information Commissioner. 🔎

"The bill would make Scotland the first part of the UK to create the offence of #ecocide"

BBC News reports on the progress of @monicalennon.bsky.social's proposed #ecocidelaw in the Scottish parliament yesterday.

Story: bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#StopEcocide

Critical win for the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill as MSPs vote to progress it to Stage 2 ⬇️

Congratulations and thanks to @monicalennon.bsky.social for her unrelenting work! We look forward to the next steps.

Press release: www.ercs.scot/news/landmar...

Colourful poster titled 'Scotland’s Big Climate and Nature Debate: Election Hustings' taking place on 24th February from 6 to 8 pm. Event available in Edinburgh at Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, or online. Logos of partner organisations featured: Our Seas Coalition, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Scottish Environment LINK, Scottish Food Coalition, and Scottish Rewilding Alliance.

📢 Are you ready for Scotland’s big climate & nature debate 2026?

Join Our Seas Coalition, @scotlink.bsky.social, @sccscot.bsky.social, Scottish Rewilding Alliance and @foodcoalition.scot at Scotland’s biggest climate and nature hustings ahead of the 2026 elections.

Sign up! shorturl.at/fBS0o

Toad patrollers have helped over 2 million toads cross roads during their annual spring migration. Incredible work by @froglife.bsky.social & volunteers!

Get involved this year: www.froglife.org/what-we-do/t...

#ToadsOnRoads2026

Image credit: Jim Jarvie

Lots of litter on the Water of Leith by The Shore, an area with 8 sewage discharge sites regularly releasing into the river.

➡️ Read the full postcard by Jim from SOSLeith in our map of Scotland: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

Image credit: River Almond Action Group.

Dear Scottish Government For over five years, we have been doing unpaid work that regulators and water companies should have been doing: raising the alarm about the volume and frequency of combined sewer overflow discharges into the river, and the risk of potential impact on the environment

Sewage-related debris accumulating in the River Almond in East Calder, West Lothian.

➡️ Read the full postcard by River Almond Action Group in our map of Scotland: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

Map from OpenStreetMap: openstreetmap.org/copyright

Map from OpenStreetMap: openstreetmap.org/copyright

Map from OpenStreetMap: openstreetmap.org/copyright

First postcards about sewage pollution are here ⬇️

As part of the campaign to Clean Up Scotland's Sewage, we're collecting postcards about sewage pollution to build a map of evidence and show the Scottish Government that you care.

Find out more & write yours: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

This @theferret.scot deep-dive into lobbying in Scotland shows exactly why our lobbying laws need strengthening.

➡️ More about how regulation could be improved in our blog: www.ercs.scot/news/how-to-...
➡️ @transparencyuk.bsky.social lobbying tracker: openaccess.transparency.org.uk

On Jan 27, MSPs decide the fate of Scotland’s Natural Environment Bill. This is our chance for legally binding nature recovery targets. 🌍🌿🐾

MSPs can still strengthen or weaken it—we need bold action now!

Like & share to help restore Scotland’s nature! 📢
#NaturalEnvironmentBill

Are you a law student or recent graduate?

Join us at our inaugural Fossil Free Law student gathering - an opportunity to network, gain campaigning skills, & strategise how to challenge ties between Scotland’s legal sector & the fossil fuel industry.

Further details: www.ercs.scot/fossil-free-...

Petition to Clean Up Scotland's Sewage Sign the petition.

Sign the petition to Clean Up Scotland's Sewage: www.ercs.scot/clean-up-sco...

"Dear Scottish Government, Please ensure that Scotland's beautiful waterways are monitored for sewage; stopping the sewage releases + charging the polluters for clean-up."

What would you want to say to the Scottish Government about sewage pollution? Here's Bill's message.

Later this month, we'll be launching our map for which you can submit a postcard to build a map of evidence - watch this space.

@johnswinney.bsky.social

SOSLeith has been fighting against longstanding sewage pollution in the Water of Leith - and now they are one of the community action groups leading the Clean Up Scotland's Sewage campaign.

➡️ Read more in their blog: www.ercs.scot/news/save-ou...

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

Title and details to the event left hand side. Hand with a tree, person holding a bird, person below and a house. Graphic.

📣Webinar: Learning from international Environmental Human Rights Defenders

Hosted by @ercscot.bsky.social
📅27 January 2026
⏰17:00 - 19:30
‼️Online

➡️ www.ercs.scot/news/webinar...

Who are Environmental Human Rights Defenders? Free webinar, 27 January. Picture of Yuli Velásquez by David Espinosa for Fine Acts (CC-BY-NC-SA, edited)

According to the UN, Environmental Human Rights Defenders “strive to protect and promote human rights relating to the environment, including water, air, land, flora and fauna.” They fight issues such as pollution, reckless exploitation of natural resources and land grabs. Many are Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent and/or part of traditional communities. Picture of Sevidzem Ernestine Leikeki by Anina Takeff for Fine Acts (CC-BY-NC-SA, edited).

Whilst protecting human rights and nature, Environmental Human Rights Defenders face severe threats. According to Global Witness, at least 146 were murdered or disappeared in 2024. In 2020, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders reported that they are the most targeted group of human rights defenders. Picture of Caroline Cannon by Pati Matsushita for Fine Acts (CC-BY-NC-SA, edited).

On 27 January, you can hear directly from three Environmental Human Rights Defenders at our free webinar. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from those who have truly challenged power to defend our human rights and nature. For security reasons the webinar won't be recorded so please book your place now: ERCS.SCOT

Who are Environmental Human Rights Defenders?

On 27 January, we're delighted to welcome three Defenders to our webinar to speak about their work. Join us to hear from experts who have challenged power and defended our right to a healthy environment.

Book: www.ercs.scot/news/webinar...

Great opportunity to work with Friends of the Earth Scotland - still a couple days left to apply ⬇️

Illustration ‘The Hand that Feeds’ by Felipe Moia for ArtistsForClimate.org (Edited, CC-BY-NC-SA).

Learn from Environmental Human Rights Defenders ⬇️

In the past year, we've seen our right to protest curtailed and human rights come under siege. Join us to hear from experts who have challenged power and defended our right to a healthy environment.

Book: www.ercs.scot/news/webinar...

Why is air pollution still a health risk in Scotland? And what can we do about it?

Join our free webinar on 20 January to hear from medical experts, environmental advocates & community campaigners on how to guarantee our right to clean air.

Book now: www.ercs.scot/news/lunchti...

What are sewer overflows?

Our new campaign to Clean Up Scotland's Sewage focusses on pollution from sewer overflows – here’s how they work.

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

Thanks to @sosleith.bsky.social for the first photo.

Today we are publishing a summary of key policies that we are urging Scottish parties to include in their manifestos at the 2026 Holyrood elections.

Read more: www.ercs.scot/wp/wp-conten...

#scottishpolitics #elections #environmentalrights

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...