Ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election, 13 human rights and environmental organisations have urged Scottish political parties to improve how environmental policies affect marginalised and disadvantaged groups.
The charities are calling for human rights-based approach to environmental policy. They argue this is critical to addressing the compounding harms of poor environmental quality and poverty which contribute to health inequalities and systemic discrimination in Scotland.
The organisations have written to Scottish party leaders with policy recommendations that target 5 priority areas selected by focus groups of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, young people, Disabled people, and older people.
The recommendations identify proposals from Scottish civil society organisations to improve access to:
- quality green and blue spaces
- affordable and clean transport
- renewable energy, particularly in rural areas
- high-quality housing
- green jobs and skills.
The recommendations include:
- Inclusion Scotland’s demand to involve Disabled people in transport infrastructure design
- The Poverty Alliance’s proposal to establish a Minimum Income Guarantee to tackle fuel poverty
- stronger enforcement mechanisms to ensure landlords carry out repairs and energy-efficiency measures, as advocated by the tenants’ union Living Rent.
The recommendations are part of Everyone’s Environment, a collaboration of social and environmental charities to accelerate action on the social impacts of the environmental crises. Everyone’s Environment, co-ordinated by the think tank NPC, commissioned the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland (ERCS) to develop the recommendations with Scottish charities.
James Somerville, NPC Policy Manager, said:
“There needs to be a greater focus on the social outcomes of environmental policies. Addressing this gap is essential to ensure that environmental policies equitably benefit communities and social groups in Scotland.
“Climate change and nature loss have the biggest impact on the people with the least voice in policy debates. These ideas aim to redress that balance.”
Dr Shivali Fifield, ERCS Chief Officer, said:
“Everyone has the right to a healthy environment and Scotland has many policies to improve environmental sustainability. But marginalised and disadvantaged groups are still disproportionately exposed to environmental harms and get fewer benefits from environmental policies, such as support for renewable heating systems and access to nature-rich greenspace.
“Environmental and social justice are two sides of the same coin. We cannot tackle the environmental crises without policies that work for all Scots. The voices of marginalised groups and communities must be centred in this process and our recommendations bring together actions proposed by Scottish civil society representing diverse communities and equality groups.
“As parties consider their manifesto priorities, they have the opportunity to transform policy choices to tackle the root causes of both environmental and health inequalities. We hope they do.”
Read the Scottish Government’s response to the policy recommendations on 13 May 2025.
ENDS
For more information contact
Julia Leino, Policy & Communications Officer
Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland
jleino@ercs.scot, 07541 517863
NOTES TO EDITORS
- [1] The letters sent to the leaders of Scottish National Party, Scottish Labour Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Green Party and Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party are available at: https://www.ercs.scot/resources/letter-inclusive-environmental-policy
- [2] The recommendations are part of the ‘Making environmental policy more inclusive’ position statement, available at: https://www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub/environmental-policy-inclusive-Scotland
- [4] NPC is a think tank and consultancy for the impact sector. We believe in the power of a growing impact sector to deliver the systems change we need to achieve lasting, positive impact in our communities. https://www.thinknpc.org/
- [5] The Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland (ERCS) is an environmental law charity. We assist the public and civil society to understand and exercise their rights in environmental law and to protect the environment. We carry out advocacy in policy and law reform to improve environmental rights, and to ensure full compliance with the Aarhus Convention. https://www.ercs.scot
- [6] Charities that signed the position statement are: the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, Greenspace Scotland, Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE), Human Rights Consortium Scotland, Inclusion Scotland, NPC, The Poverty Alliance, SCVO, Verture, Woodcraft Folk, YMCA Scotland, Young Sea Changers Scotland, and Youth Link Scotland.
