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 ...
Law reform
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 ...
Environmental campaigners urge UN Body to recommend equal rights in Scotland’s planning system – press release
ERCS, Planning Democracy, FoES and RSPB Scotland have submitted a formal complaint to the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee, tasked with upholding environmental rights, to recommend equal rights of appeal in the planning system ...
Scottish Government fails to deliver for UN Action Plan deadline on environmental rights – press release
ERCS, FoES and RSPB Scotland have branded a UK and Scottish Government Action Plan to deliver on environmental rights ‘woefully inadequate’. The groups have written to the UN body to express their concern about a lack of concrete commitments to reform the legal system to help people defend the environment ...
ERCS welcomes exemption of court fees for some Aarhus cases, but much more is needed
The Scottish Government has published its response to their consultation on court fees, along with secondary legislation to implement changes from 1 July. However, more is needed ...
Voice from the Human Rights Lived Experience Board – Ann Coleman
Ann Coleman has been a community and environmental campaigner for over 25 years. We are grateful that she agreed to be on the Human Rights Lived Experience Board to inform the development of the Human Rights (Scotland) Bill ...
We have only one earth. Let’s take care of it. Sign the petition!
Sunday 5 June is World Environment Day – to remind us that there are billions of planets in our galaxy but there is #OnlyOneEarth. Let’s take care of it ...
ERCS responds to the Scottish Government’s consultation on court fees
Read our response. We welcome the proposal to make all Aarhus Convention cases exempt from court fees. Our response sets out why this is important and how this could work in practice ...
