Investing in a Green Recovery for Scotland

Restoring and protecting nature can create green jobs and provide significant benefits for nature, climate and people. Isobel Mercer, Senior Policy Officer, sets out how the Scottish Government can ensure our recovery from Covid-19 is truly green. 

Investing in a Green Recovery for Scotland

As August turns to September, many of us are left wondering where 2020 has gone. The disruption and hardship caused by coronavirus continues and recession is now also likely to affect many people across Scotland and the UK.

In the initial months of lockdown, a global conversation took place about how we build back better, achieving a Green Recovery that accelerates action to address the climate and nature emergency. This is vital because our planet was in trouble long before the pandemic.

The Scottish Government have now committed to a Green Recovery, and this is hugely welcome, but for the recovery to be truly green it must have nature at its heart. Indeed, the Scottish Government’s own advisory group identified that investing in nature must be part of the recovery, but more action is needed.

Last week we launched a new report with the Scottish Wildlife Trust and WWF Scotland, setting out 11 transformative actions for nature’s recovery. You can read about our Nature Recovery Plan and access the full report here.

In the report, we highlight five areas for investment as part of a Green Recovery:

1. Restoring and expanding native woodlands is vital for saving some of our most important habitats and wildlife and will also generate green jobs in tree planting and woodland management and help us to achieve net zero emissions.
   
   
2. Restoring and protecting Scotland’s peatlands is crucial, as it is estimated that over 80% of peatlands are degraded. Restoring peatlands will also play a key role in achieving climate targets, create jobs and help clean up our drinking water.
   
   
3. Tackling deer management is critical for supporting peatland and woodland restoration. Controlling deer could create further jobs.
   
   
4. Creating a new system to support nature- and climate-friendly farming including investment in good quality, tailored advice to help farmers deliver nature and climate outcomes.
   
   
5. Linking up wild places by delivering a Scottish Nature Network including through more nature-rich greenspace in towns and cities. This will increase access to nature, create jobs, provide opportunities for exercise and green travel, improve air quality and help to alleviate flooding.

Delivering these actions would help to build a more healthy and resilient nation, supporting diverse, vibrant communities and economies.

In September the Scottish Government will launch its 2020-21 Programme for Government, setting out its priorities for the year ahead. It is vital that this includes measures like those above, setting out significant investment in restoring Scotland’s amazing nature.

Successful delivery at scale will require leadership from Scottish Government to leverage additional private investment and time for upskilling and training people to take on these roles.