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 ...
Aarhus Convention
Scotland’s breach of public participation requirements – case update
In March 2025, ERCS submitted a complaint to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee on the Scottish Civil Justice Council’s failure to publicly consult on proposed changes to rules ...
Scottish elections 2026: where do the parties stand on environmental rights?
With only a week to go before the next Scottish Parliament election, what commitments have each party made on environmental rights and access to justice? ...
Proposed changes to court rules signal major step towards affordable access to justice
ERCS welcomes positive proposals to address the cost of environmental litigation after years of inaction from public authorities ...
UN body finds that Scotland fails to guarantee access to environmental justice – press release
The Scottish Government has failed to implement recommendations to guarantee access to justice to uphold environmental rights, according to a new UN report ...
Advocacy Manifesto sets out route map to secure environmental rights
ERCS today launches our new Advocacy Manifesto, setting out a route map of how every person’s right to live in a healthy environment can be respected, protected, and fulfilled ...
Reforming legal aid to deliver environmental justice
A new ERCS briefing discusses the importance of amending Regulation 15 of the Civil Legal Aid (Scotland) Regulations 2002 to enable public interest environmental litigation and increase access to environmental justice. The briefing summarises evidence supplied by ERCS legal director Ben Christman to the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities, Human Rights, and Civil Justice Committee in November 2024, which highlights how the ‘joint interest test’ specified under Regulation 15 of the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 2002 makes it difficult to obtain legal aid for environmental cases. ERCS recommends that Regulation 15 is amended so that it does not apply to cases falling within the scope of the Aarhus Convention. Read the briefing
Scottish Parliament debates the Aarhus Convention and access to environmental justice – the highlights
Read our highlights from last week's Scottish Parliament debate on the Aarhus Convention and access to environmental justice ...
