Justice for people
and the environment
We want a Scotland where every person’s right to a healthy environment is respected, protected and fulfilled.
We know that holding public bodies and polluters to account is too complicated, intimidating and expensive. This is why we work for better laws and support people to use their environmental rights to defend the environment – for our health and our planet.
Scotland’s law centre for environmental justice
You can contact us for specific advice on an environmental issue or a general enquiry. For example, a worrying planning application, loss of greenspace, or your right to environmental information.
When all else fails, we use public interest litigation to hold public bodies to account.
‘Hauns Affa Torry protest’ by Yvonne Blake, Anne Duncan and Ric Lander for Climate Camp Scotland.
Community campaigners pointing out sewer overflows on a map at the Clean Up Scotland’s Sewage campaign stall.
Working with environmental defenders
We campaign with groups to improve environmental regulations and enforcement to tackle air, land and water pollution.
Discussions table at the lived experience workshop for disability-inclusive climate emergency planning by David Mollison.
Strengthening environmental laws
We are pushing for a right to a healthy environment, criminalising ecocide, and fair and affordable access to justice.
Take action
Write a postcard about sewage pollution
Do you know a river or a beach affected by sewage pollution? We are collecting postcards about people’s experiences for a map of evidence – and to call for action on sewage spills.
Sewer overflow in the River Clyde, Glasgow by Friends of the River Clyde.
Latest news
Our strategy for 2026-2029
We are delighted to publish our 3-year strategy, which shows the interrelationship of our four work areas, our strategic aims, priorities and actions …
Environmental rights on Gypsy/Traveller Sites
Since 2022, ERCS has been working closely with the Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (MECOPP) to investigate and address the range of environmental burdens faced by residents on Gypsy/Traveller sites in Scotland. This report summarises the findings and learnings of our collaboration across five sites …
Progress on access to environmental justice and next steps
Read our briefing summarising Scotland’s progress towards addressing its breach of the Aarhus Convention’s access to justice requirements, and the reforms needed in this parliamentary session to guarantee full access to environmental justice …
Learnings from the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill and the next steps for criminalising ecocide
With a new parliament in place, we revisit outstanding questions from the Ecocide (Scotland) Bill’s scrutiny and consider the next steps for the effective criminalisation of ecocide …
Disability-inclusive climate emergency planning in Scotland
Over the last 18 months, ERCS have been working closely with Inclusion Scotland and the Sensing Climate project to identify opportunities for disability-inclusive climate emergency planning in Scotland. Ahead of our roundtable with key stakeholders in June, we are sharing our findings …
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We send our supporters regular updates with new resources, events and ways to take action.
Header image by Ferdinand van Oostrom is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
