Environmental Standards Scotland
Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) is a public body set up to ensure the effectiveness of environmental law, and prevent enforcement gaps arising from the UK leaving the European Union.
We are here to independently monitor and investigate the effectiveness of environmental law in Scotland, and public authorities’ compliance with it.
Raise an environmental concern
One of the ways in which we carry out our function is to investigate representations made to us.
Find out what we can investigate, how to raise a concern and what cases we are currently working on.
Chief Executive Officer - Six Monthly Update
Watch an update from our Chief Executive, Mark Roberts, on information regarding ESS’ work over the last six months, including on our new Strategy 2026 – 2031 and new scrutiny functions.
Video Transcript
0:03 Hello, I’m Mark Roberts, chief executive
0:06 of Environmental Standards Scotland.
0:09 Today I want to update you on three
0:11 things.
0:12 First, about our new scrutiny functions.
0:16 Second, on our new strategy, and third,
0:18 some information on ongoing pieces of
0:21 work.
0:25 I welcome the Scottish Parliament’s
0:26 approval of the Natural Environment
0:28 Scotland bill.
0:30 First part of the bill introduces new
0:32 statutory biodiversity targets and
0:35 designates ESS as the independent review
0:38 body responsible for monitoring progress
0:40 against these targets.
0:43 Alongside this, we will also take on a
0:46 second important new function,
0:48 scrutinizing how local authorities
0:50 report on their climate change duties.
0:53 The increases to our budget in the next
0:55 financial year will ensure that we are
0:57 ready to prepare for, integrate, and
0:59 deliver both of these new functions
1:02 effectively.
1:06 Secondly, we have updated and refined
1:09 our 5-year strategy.
1:11 Following feedback from the Parliament’s
1:13 delegated powers and law reform
1:15 committee, we revised the draft,
1:18 consulted again, and laid the new
1:20 version in the parliament.
1:23 Again, I want to thank everyone who
1:25 provided feedback on our consultations.
1:29 Subject to parliamentary approval, we
1:31 plan to publish our final strategy in
1:33 March.
1:35 At the same time, we will also publish a
1:38 suite of ESS governance documents,
1:40 including our business plan, a new
1:42 communications and engagement plan, and
1:45 an updated set of performance
1:46 indicators.
1:50 Finally, we continue to work with public
1:53 authorities to resolve environmental
1:55 issues wherever possible through
1:56 informal resolution.