Committee hits out at drop in environment budget

The long-term impact of a persistent drop in Scotland’s environment budget is concerning for the future, according to a Holyrood committee.

Spending levels were highlighted in a letter to the Scottish Government by the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee, in advance of the draft budget for 2019/20.

It highlights that an alternative to EU funding post-Brexit has not been outlined, while Scottish Natural Heritage has seen its budget reduced by 40% in real terms over the past eight years.

Convener Gillian Martin MSP said: “Our committee is concerned that the budget for the environment, climate change, land reform, research and relevant agencies has been declining in real terms for a number of years now.

“These cuts to the environment budget become particularly apparent when looking at Scotland’s environmental performance and goals.

“If we are to reach our ambitions we need the funding to match.”

She added: “We’re all becoming more aware of the very real damage caused by climate change, carbon emissions and the staggering amount of plastics floating in our seas.

“Now is not the time to drawback from vital investment in these areas, particularly when there is still such uncertainty on Brexit and what will replace the substantial amount of EU funding Scotland currently gets.”

Other points includes a recommendation that the Scottish Government works closely with agencies as well as the UK Government to identify replacement funding streams.

It called for assurances that the carbon impact is at the heart of all budget decisions, spend is focused on low carbon projects and Scotland “locks in” the transition to a zero-carbon future now.

The committee has also highlighted the health and economic benefits of environmental spending and concerns about the diminishing budget for biodiversity, the marine environment, environmental research and environmental agencies.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Reductions in Scotland’s budget are a direct result of the UK government’s austerity programme.

“Clearly, a Brexit which Scotland did not vote for will remove vital European environment funding and the UK Government must now give clarity on how it intends to replace this money.”