Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 20 September 2023
20 Sep 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scotland’s Nature
I welcome today’s debate. The twin nature and climate emergencies are ever more urgent, and they represent an existential threat that simply cannot be ignored. Last year, nations around the world agreed the global biodiversity framework—an ambitious global agreement to halt biodiversity loss by the end of the decade and to reverse the catastrophic declines that we have seen in our natural world. It is a global agreement to tackle the nature emergency. It is the same determination and commitment to collaboration that led to the Paris agreement on the climate emergency.
The United Kingdom Government might abandon its responsibilities, but this Government stands by its promises to the international community and to future generations.
Restoring Scotland’s peatlands and forests is critical to meeting both our climate and nature commitments. We are making good progress. Last year, we restored 7,500 hectares of peatland, up from 5,400 the previous year—
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-10498, in the name of Rhoda Grant, on protecting Scotland’s nature. I invite those members who wish to pa...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
That urgent action is needed on the climate emergency and its impact is something that unites us all. Rural Scotland is in a strong position to contribute, w...
The Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (Lorna Slater)
Green
I welcome today’s debate. The twin nature and climate emergencies are ever more urgent, and they represent an existential threat that simply cannot be ignore...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
You say that you are making good progress, but you have not even reached 50 per cent of your target that was set out in 2018. Is that good progress?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Members should remember to speak through the chair.
Lorna Slater
Green
It is indeed good progress. We can see the year-on-year progress and the enormous effort that the sector is making. The growth in the restoration rate reflec...
Lorna Slater
Green
No—I am going to make progress. It also means investing more money. To prevent climate disaster, we are all in agreement that the infrastructure investment ...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Did the minister actually look at the document? It contains figures for implementing the right to roam in Scotland, which we have enjoyed for decades, as wel...
Lorna Slater
Green
I am absolutely familiar with that document and with the assumptions that are in it. Rhoda Grant is quite right that there are assumptions in the document. T...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the minister take an intervention?
Lorna Slater
Green
I am sorry—I am running out of time.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The minister is about to conclude, because she is over time.
Lorna Slater
Green
We will, therefore, ensure that those plans are informed by the on-going debate over how we ensure that investment in nature supports our land reform agenda,...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Minister, you need to conclude and move your amendment.
Lorna Slater
Green
At the 26th UN climate change conference of the parties—COP26—in Glasgow, we announced the new multiyear funding for nature restoration—
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Minister, I asked you to conclude and move your amendment. Please do so now.
Lorna Slater
Green
I apologise. I move amendment S6M-10498, to leave out from first “regrets” to end and insert: “affirms its commitment to the Global Biodiversity Framework,...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests as a partner in J Halcro-Johnston and Sons, which is an organic farming business; the owner...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
I am sorry, but it is a short debate. I have only four minutes, and I am opening for the Conservatives. The Scottish National Party-Green Government has no...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
As the proud species champion of the Scottish primrose, I very much welcome the fact that the Parliament is debating Scotland’s twin crises on climate and na...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
In opening the debate, Rhoda Grant referred to the revealing social research report, “Mobilising private investment in natural capital”, which was recently p...
Colin Beattie (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to take part in the debate, albeit with a more positive view than our Labour colleagues. Much has been done by the Scottish Governm...
Richard Leonard (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
What we are holding the SNP-Green Government to account for this afternoon is its relationship with big capital. Under the Green Finance Institute—“backed by...
Maurice Golden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
As we have heard today, our natural environment is in a perilous condition. Scotland might be one of the most beautiful countries in the world, but it is als...
The Minister for Energy and the Environment (Gillian Martin)
SNP
I actually agree with Maurice Golden. Does he agree with me that, when things that put into place actions to get us to net zero targets come to Parliament fo...
Maurice Golden
Con
Yes. Alongside targets, we need robust means of holding the Scottish Government to account. A dedicated Scottish environmental court would be one such mecha...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I will start on a point of agreement with the Labour motion. Despite Sir Keir Starmer’s telling his shadow cabinet, “I hate tree huggers,” in response to a p...
Sarah Boyack
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Emma Harper
SNP
We do not have time for interventions in these wee, four-minute time slots. I am interested in promoting the peatland restoration work that is taking place ...