Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland

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/

Our webinar on lobbying is happening next week!

Join us to find out how we can enforce the Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016 and create more transparency and accountability about political lobbying.

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

United Nations urged to act over senior Scots judges 'breach' of international law A Scots legal justice charity has placed senior Scottish judges in the dock as they call on the United Nations to urgently intervene over an alleged…

If you want to read more, @martin1williams.bsky.social wrote brilliant articles in @heraldscotland.bsky.social explaining the case when we first submitted this complaint ⬇️

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2501505...

Photo credit: Sheriff Court House, Perth, Scotland by Brokentaco (CC BY 2.0). Text: Complaint about the Scottish Civil Justice Council passes first hurdle

In March, ERCS submitted a formal complaint arguing that the Scottish Civil Justice Council had breached our right to participate in the making of environmental laws. This right is enshrined in the Aarhus Convention. Despite opposition from the UK, the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee decided that the complaint is admissible.

Quote from Dr Ben Christman, ERCS Legal Director: "The way we make decisions matters. Public participation is a critical part of creating fair and functional environmental laws."

Despite opposition from the UK, the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee has decided that our formal complaint about the Scottish Civil Justice Council is admissible.

We hope that the UK will now respond to our concerns seriously.

🔗 Read update: www.ercs.scot/news/complai...

📣 Scotland Demands Better 📣

ERCS is backing Poverty Alliance's call.

#WeDemandBetter investment for life's essentials - like affordable homes, good public transport, a thriving natural environment, and strong public services.

www.povertyalliance.org/scotland-dem...

Image of a handshake. Guide to lobbying in Scotland.

Text: Regulated lobbying in Scotland must be registered and reported. You can find information on the official Lobbying Register, or through Freedom of Information (FoI) requests and on other registers. You can also submit a complaint about undisclosed lobbying. Guide on ercs.scot.

Powerful lobbyists oppose climate action - but we can use the law to bring this to light 🔎

Our new Guide explains how lobbying is regulated in Scotland, where to find information, and how to submit a complaint to the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

www.ercs.scot/resources/gu...

A great event coming up organised by our friends at @foescot.bsky.social - not to be missed!

💧 New blog 💧

Bathing water designation came to our attention when we were contacted by the River Almond Action Group (RAAG).

Over two years after our representation to Environmental Standards Scotland, bathing water designation remains murkier than ever …

Read: www.ercs.scot/news/bathing...

Worried about a new development under construction that appears to not be complying with its planning consent? I would say definitely report it to the local planning enforcement team.

All regulator’s really rely on the public eyes on the development

Excellent guide below
👇

An image of two people shaking hands. Text: 'The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016: Howe to enforce it and does it need to be strengthened? 3:30-5pm on 2 July 2025

How can we use lobbying laws to challenge the influence of big businesses and wealthy individuals in politics?

Join our webinar to hear about how our lobbying laws work and discuss whether they need to be strengthened to prevent corruption.

🗓️ 02/07, 3.30-5pm
🎟️ Book: www.ercs.scot/news/lobbyin...

Image shows aerial view of housing and greenspace, with text overlaid stating 'guide - planning enforcement'.

Image shows builders on scaffolding with text overlaid stating 'local councils are responsible for enforcing planning controls.'

Our guide to planning enforcement is out now!

The guide is intended to help people to challenge breaches of planning controls & ensure conditions are met that protect the environment.

Read now at: www.ercs.scot/resources/gu...

#planning #democracy #publicparticipation

Scottish Refugee Council invited ERCS to hear from 29 refugees and asylum seekers about their lived experiences of accessing greenspaces and healthy food.

This was an additional piece to our Race & Right to a Healthy Environment work.

Read here: www.ercs.scot/news/race-th...

Cover of the Everyone's Environment policy position statement: Making environmental policy inclusive in Scotland, April 2025

As part of the Everyone’s Environment project, 13 charities wrote to the Scottish Government in April to call for a human rights-based approach to environmental policy.

We were delighted to receive their response, which noted the Scottish Human Rights Bill.

Read: www.ercs.scot/resources/le...

MSPs urged to 'seize historic opportunity' and back Ecocide Bill to jail polluters Labour MSP Monica Lennon has tabled a Bill to criminalise ecocide in Scotland, with severe penalties for causing environmental harm

With the introduction of the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill, we are one step closer to a legal protection against reckless environmental destruction.

Congratulations @monicalennon.bsky.social & thank you for your dedication - we’re excited to support this.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2519843...

@foescot.bsky.social, @transparencyuk.bsky.social, @thesoilassociation.bsky.social, @aprscotland.bsky.social, @plandemoc.bsky.social, @scotlink.bsky.social, @theferret.scot

An image of two people shaking hands. Text: 'The Lobbying (Scotland) Act 2016: Howe to enforce it and does it need to be strengthened? 3:30-5pm on 2 July 2025

How can we use lobbying laws to challenge the influence of big businesses and wealthy individuals in politics?

Join our webinar to hear about how our lobbying laws work and discuss whether they need to be strengthened to prevent corruption.

🗓️ 02/07, 3.30-5pm
🎟️ Book: www.ercs.scot/news/lobbyin...

Every day in Scotland & Europe, the right to a #HealthyEnvironmentForAll is violated—especially for communities in situations of marginalisation.
@ercscot.bsky.social urges @coe.int States to urgently begin the legal protection of the right as a cornerstone of equality & non-discrimination!

Green box with text overlaid on in which reads, "we are deeply concerned about the latest development in the Lomond Banks case...that planning permission should be granted on appeal is flawed and sets a disturbing precedent."

A copy of the letter to the First Minister from 13 eNGOs in Scotland asking for the FlamningoLand proposal to be rejected in its current form.

A coalition of charities has today written to the First Minister asking his government to stop #FlamingoLand going ahead at #LochLomond. Letter below. Please write to Ivan McKee (MinisterPF@gov.scot) & ask him to stop this development going ahead. There's still time. ⬇️

Guest blog: Why law students are challenging their future employers over the climate crisis.

As part of the Fossil Free Law campaign launched by ERCS with law students across Scotland, two students explain why they are taking action.

Read more: tinyurl.com/38fezfjd

#FossilFreeLaw #ClimateJustice

Stand Up for Nature!

Scotland’s nature is struggling, but the Natural Environment Bill could be a turning point.

We need to show MSPs that nature matters to Scotland’s people.

📆Thursday 12 June
🕒12:30-2pm
📍Scottish parliament

Join the demo:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stand-up-f...

Goathill Quarry by Mark

📣 Our latest Voices for Justice piece:

Here from Mark, who was concerned about the environmental harm of a local quarry and its storage and processing of incinerator waste, contaminating the adjacent forest.

www.ercs.scot/resources/de...

📷: Goathill Quarry by Mark

Scottish Forestry decided not to require an Environmental Impact Assessment for a 1,000 acre plantation of mostly the invasive Sitka spruce in the Scottish Borders.

Restore Nature is now fundraising to cover the legal expenses of challenging this in court: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-todri...

In our latest long read, ERCS Legal Director Dr Ben Christman breaks down the failures of the Scottish Government’s review on environmental governance, in which they refused to strengthen environmental protections.

Read: www.ercs.scot/news/a-bit-o...

Subscribe: www.ercs.scot/mailing-list/

Making environmental policy inclusive in Scotland - NPC NPC and the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland review current Scottish environmental policies and make recommendations for how Scottish policy can better reflect the needs of marginalised and…

To tackle the environmental crises, we need policies that work for all Scots.

We were delighted to be commissioned by Everyone's Environment to develop recommendations for making Scottish environmental policy more inclusive.

www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub...

@thinknpc.bsky.social

@scottishgreens.org @scotlibdems.org.uk @scottishlabour.bsky.social @scottories.bsky.social @johnswinney.bsky.social @lornaslater.bsky.social @alex.scotlibdems.org.uk @anassarwar.bsky.social @russellfindlay.bsky.social