By David Scott
14 January 2010
Scotland has made mixed progress in its attempts to meet environmental targets, according to the public services watchdog.
In a report published on January 14, Audit Scotland said the country had successfully met several European and Scottish environmental targets but a number, including those on air quality and biodiversity, had not been achieved.
A long-term commitment and strong leadership were needed to continue to improve Scotland’s environment, the watchdog stressed.
The report, Protecting and improving Scotland’s environment, found that air quality in Scotland was generally good but that there were some areas where the quality was poor, mainly as a result of road traffic pollution.
It disclosed that some important waste management targets on landfill and recycling were at risk of not being met.
John Baillie, chair of the Accounts Commission, the body that audits local government, said it was concerning that ‘taken together, councils’ individuals plans are not yet adequate to meet landfill targets beyond 2010’.
The report said meeting European targets for improving water quality would require different approaches from those currently adopted.
Auditor General Bob Black said there had been ‘progress in many areas’. But, he added: ‘For some policies, such as air quality and transport, land management and water quality there is a need for better co-ordination in thought and action at both national and local levels.’
Juliet Swann, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said the watchdog’s findings were not surprising.
‘We are not giving a high enough priority to protecting our environmental assets,’ she said. ‘Audit Scotland should be expected to set the bar appropriately high. Simply saying, for instance, that road charging may not be acceptable to the public fails to recognise that Audit Scotland must be able to challenge the sector to make decisions which will contribute to improving our environment.’
14 January 2010
Scotland has made mixed progress in its attempts to meet environmental targets, according to the public services watchdog.
In a report published on January 14, Audit Scotland said the country had successfully met several European and Scottish environmental targets but a number, including those on air quality and biodiversity, had not been achieved.
A long-term commitment and strong leadership were needed to continue to improve Scotland’s environment, the watchdog stressed.
The report, Protecting and improving Scotland’s environment, found that air quality in Scotland was generally good but that there were some areas where the quality was poor, mainly as a result of road traffic pollution.
It disclosed that some important waste management targets on landfill and recycling were at risk of not being met.
John Baillie, chair of the Accounts Commission, the body that audits local government, said it was concerning that ‘taken together, councils’ individuals plans are not yet adequate to meet landfill targets beyond 2010’.
The report said meeting European targets for improving water quality would require different approaches from those currently adopted.
Auditor General Bob Black said there had been ‘progress in many areas’. But, he added: ‘For some policies, such as air quality and transport, land management and water quality there is a need for better co-ordination in thought and action at both national and local levels.’
Juliet Swann, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said the watchdog’s findings were not surprising.
‘We are not giving a high enough priority to protecting our environmental assets,’ she said. ‘Audit Scotland should be expected to set the bar appropriately high. Simply saying, for instance, that road charging may not be acceptable to the public fails to recognise that Audit Scotland must be able to challenge the sector to make decisions which will contribute to improving our environment.’
