SNP finally publishes two-year-delayed Biodiversity Strategy

Scottish Liberal Democrat climate crisis spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has today slammed the government for publishing their Biodiversity Strategy two years after they first promised it.

After a round of consultations, the SNP and Greens published their draft Biodiversity Strategy in December 2022. They committed to publishing a final version following the 2022 UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), but this never happened.

In July 2023, former Circular Economy Minister and Green MSP Lorna Slater announced that rather than proceeding with publishing the strategy, the government would hold a second consultation. This further delayed new policies until the full consultation took place.

Mr McArthur said:

“Delays and excuses have dogged this strategy. Published two years after it was first promised, there are now big questions over how seriously the SNP is treating the nature and climate emergencies.

“Scotland is a beautiful country and we should be doing everything we can to protect and enhance its natural assets.

“I want to see a government that recognises we live in partnership with nature and demands better for our planet. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen much evidence of that under the SNP.”