A new report backed by experts from across Scotland’s environmental sector has welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment to incorporating the substantive and procedural elements of the right to a healthy environment in its upcoming Human Rights Bill ...
Campaigns
New briefing highlights need for a Scottish Environment Court
Read our new briefing summarising arguments for a Scottish Environment Court, in anticipation of the Scottish Government’s consultation on access to justice ...
Bathing water case update: the good, the bad, and the ugly
In March, we submitted a formal complaint to Environmental Standards Scotland about the prohibitively high threshold for applicants seeking bathing water designation for Scotland’s beaches, lochs and rivers ...
Report launch: The clear and urgent case for a Scottish Environment Court
Today we are delighted to publish a new report, 'The clear and urgent case for a Scottish Environment Court', commissioned by ERCS and authored by Prof. Campbell Gemmell ...
Equal rights of appeal – update
A top UN body has backed calls from environmental and community campaigners to review planning appeal rights across Scotland. This intervention follows repeated calls for equal rights of appeal which have been ignored by the Scottish Government ...
Access to justice on the environment: A review of progress so far
It’s been a whirlwind few months for anyone concerned about access to justice on the environment. Our Policy & Advocacy Officer, Benji, gives an update on what's gone well and what more there is to do ...
ERCS challenges Scottish Government over bathing water status
ERCS has made a complaint to Environmental Standards Scotland regarding the government’s unlawful approach to the designation of bathing waters in Scotland ...
New briefing: Protective Expenses Orders – access to information remains a barrier to justice
In October 2021, ERCS submitted a Freedom of Information request to investigate the impact of Protective Expenses Orders – which are intended to reduce the cost of litigation for environmental cases. A year later, we are still in the dark about how they are really working ...