Greens welcome Scottish Government promise to protect nature from Downing Street “attacks”
Liz Truss must end her attacks on nature and reverse her plans to remove vital protections for nature, according to the Scottish Greens.
This follows criticisms from RSPB Scotland, who have condemned changes that they believe will undermine vital protections for nature by rolling back on commitments that were made while the UK was in the European Union.
They are also concerned that proposed changes will make it easier for developments to go ahead in places that would damage wildlife and that so-called ‘Investment Zones’ could tear up fundamental protections for nature in certain areas.
The issue was raised at First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) by Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell, who has welcomed the First Minister’s commitment to continue fighting for nature.
Commenting after FMQS, Mark Ruskell MSP said: “Liz Truss’s mini-budget has unleashed chaos on all of us, putting households across Scotland under acute pressure and stress. But it has also threatened to renege on vital protections for our natural world, developed over 40 years when we were part of the European Union.
“There are concerns about the potential impacts on Scotland, but we also know that the natural world doesn’t end at the border. We all have an interest in governments across the UK and beyond investing in nature.
“With Scottish Greens in government we have secured record investment in wildlife and nature, with the groundbreaking nature restoration fund supporting vital projects all across Scotland. This stands in stark contrast to the environmental vandalism and attacks on nature that we have seen from Downing Street.
“By acting now to restore nature, protect and enhance habitats and safeguard marine life, we can secure a better future for our nature, our planet and for future generations.”