Today we are delighted to publish a new briefing paper summarising arguments for a Scottish Environment Court, in anticipation of the Scottish Government’s consultation on access to justice on environmental matters.
The briefing summarises how a dedicated Scottish Environment Court would increase access to justice, address the current fragmentation in routes to remedy, and develop judicial expertise to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
The briefing draws on the arguments of two reports commissioned by ERCS: The clear and urgent case for a Scottish Environment Court (Gemmell, February 2023), and Why Scotland needs and environmental court or tribunal (Christman, 2021). Our arguments centre on the well-documented barriers to access to justice on the environment, and also highlight the value of a dedicated environment court in delivering an enforceable human right to a healthy environment.