ERCS welcomes the news that Members of the Scottish Parliament are expected to debate Ruth Maguire MSP’s motion on a human right to a healthy environment. The debate is currently scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday 17 March, having been rescheduled from 10 March.
Ruth Maguire MSP lodged a motion on a human right to a healthy environment last month. This motion has now received cross-party support, and Ruth has submitted it for debate.
The debate is timely because, any day now, the Scottish Government’s National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership will issue detailed proposals for a new statutory human rights framework for Scotland, which we hope will include a human right to a healthy environment.
This debate gives MSPs from all parties the chance to set out their views on a human right to a healthy environment. A Scottish Government minister will then respond to any issues that are raised.
We hope that MSPs will show their commitment to a human right to a healthy environment and set out how their party will work to make it a reality in the next Scottish Parliament. Crucially, we would like them to provide assurances that, if re-elected, they will support new legislation arising from the Taskforce’s recommendations.
What can you do?
- Watch the debate on https://www.scottishparliament.tv/.
- Contact your MSPs to ask them to support Ruth Maguire’s motion.
- Read our briefing that Scottish Environment LINK submitted to interested MSPs in advance of this debate.
- Read our blog about what we are doing to support a human right to a healthy environment to find out more.
