State of the environment
The state (or condition) of our local, regional and global
environment is important to everyone who works in, lives in or
visits Scotland. A healthy environment is not only fundamental to
our own health, it is our life support system. It provides us with
the basic essentials for life:
- air to breathe, water to drink and productive land for food
and fuel
- a favourable climate for growth and development
- space for recreation
- shelter and protection from the elements.
The natural environment also provides us with services which are
essential for all life on earth. These 'ecosystem services' include
pollination, photosynthesis, water supply, the maintenance of soil
fertility, water retention and storage, flood alleviation, waste
breakdown and disposal, carbon storage and sources of energy.
However, we rarely recognise the ecological or human health
benefits of these services, or their true financial value.
A good environment can encourage a healthy lifestyle and contribute
to the well-being of the population. Green spaces in urban areas
and easily accessible, attractive paths are vital resources and
being close to and watching wildlife is an increasingly popular
pastime.
Scotland's environment
Scotland's rich and diverse environment is home to a wide range of
habitats and species. It is also fundamental to our economy,
generating income both directly (eg through farming, forestry
and as a source of raw materials) and indirectly. Much of
Scotland's tourism is dependent on the wild and beautiful landscape
of our coasts, lochs, rivers and mountains. It is this
same landscape that plays a role in attracting and retaining
good quality enterprises and a highly skilled
workforce.
SEPA has a statutory duty to report on the condition of
Scotland's environment. Our State of Scotland's Environment
2006 report revealed a complex environment, which has
experience both positive and negative trends over the last decade
and longer timescales:
While the overall picture of Scotland's environment is generally
one of relatively good quality, the impacts of climate change are
already beginning to be felt across all areas and aspects of
Scotland's environment, and at all levels of society and economic
activity. Left unchecked, climate change will accelerate,
causing further damage to the physical, biological and chemical
processes that sustain not only Scotland's environment but our
economic and social well-being as well.
Positives and negatives
The Scottish environment is generally of good quality.
Historically, there have been many improvements, particularly as a
result of the reduction in emissions from industrial sources. In
most areas, air quality standards are met for most of the time and
the state of our freshwater environments is largely good, thanks to
concerted and continuing action to reduce pollution and control
discharges. Similarly, for much of the year, Scotland has abundant
water in most, but not all, areas and our landscapes of mountains
and coasts provide the backdrop for a generally high quality of
life and the basis of a successful tourism industry and vibrant
economy.
However, there are problems, including:
- localised air pollution
- reductions in stratospheric ozone
- risks to water quality from diffuse pollution
- increases in the amount of waste being produced
- potential ecological damage from nutrient enrichment and
acidification
- loss of biodiversity.
There are also gaps in knowledge about a number of aspects of the
environment including, for instance, land (especially soil)
quality, the environmental implications of hazardous chemicals and
the relationships between the environment and human health.
Most significantly, climate change is leading to changes in
temperature, rainfall patterns, snow cover, wind and storm events,
flooding and coastal erosion. All of these could have significant
impacts on Scotland's environment, economy and people.
Long term implications
Although Scotland's population has stabilised in recent years,
the number of households and our consumption of materials is
increasing. Many of the environmental challenges that we face have
long-term implications. These problems are linked to every day
consumption generally, and to our use of food, water, energy,
goods, services, land, property and transport. Globally, Scotland's
ecological footprint is three times greater than is sustainable and
we are living beyond our current means.