Scottish Tories would target litterbugs with £100 on-the-spot fines
The Tories have proposed Scotland have the toughest default fines for littering in the UK.
environment
Fracking protesters glue themselves to Government building
Demonstrators have chained themselves together and superglued themselves to a Government building as part of an environmental protest.
Recycling targets will be missed, Tories claim
Government targets for household recycling will be “significantly” missed if current trends continue, according to opposition analysis.
Vast majority of Scots want more done to protect landscapes, survey suggests
Scots support greater measures to preserve the country’s most scenic landscapes, a new study suggests.
Professor Campbell Gemmell to head air quality strategy review
A former head of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will chair an independent review of the country’s air quality strategy.
TV presenter leads campaign to reform Scotland’s grouse moors
A campaign to bring “significant reform” to Scotland’s grouse moors to make them more environmentally friendly is being launched by naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham.
Dundee council accused of ‘bullying’ workers over smoking and vaping ban
Organisations on both sides of the tobacco divide have called on Dundee City Council to support employees who want to quit as best they can.
A third of critically endangered plants cannot be saved in seed banks: study
More than a third of critically endangered plant species cannot be preserved in seed banks to save them from extinction, researchers have warned.
Funding for companies aiming to reduce Scotland’s food waste
Funding has been made available to help encourage Scottish businesses aiming to cut food waste.
Workers fume as Dundee council introduces ‘heavy-handed’ ban on smoking and vaping on shift
Dundee City Council workers face disciplinary action if they smoke on shift under a new policy which has been branded “heavy-handed”.
Fracking halted again after another underground tremor detected
Fracking at a gas exploration site in Lancashire has been halted again after another tremor was detected underground.
Nine in 10 of the world’s children breathe toxic air – report
More than nine in 10 children around the world are living in areas of toxic air pollution, global health leaders have warned.
UK throws away 295 billion pieces of plastic waste a year, report estimates
People in the UK throw away around 295 billion pieces of plastic every year, much of which is single-use and cannot be recycled, a report suggests.
Multimillion-pound Budget boost for tree planting across England
Philip Hammond is set to announce a £60 million pledge to plant more trees to help preserve the country’s environment.
Buses can help tackle pollution in towns and cities – Transport Secretary
Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has said buses could be part of the solution to tackling pollution in towns and cities, as he announced more cash is being made available to help firms make their fleet more environmentally-friendly.
Harry collects Australian Geographic Society’s award to Queen for forest project
The Queen has been honoured with a special award for conservation for her initiative to highlight the plight of the world’s forests.
Biotech firm bosses urge talks with Sir David Attenborough over kelp project
Bosses at a Scottish firm which sparked protests after bidding to harvest kelp from the seabed have urged naturalist Sir David Attenborough to meet them to discuss their proposals.
Company launches Kickstarter to create kids’ clothing made from scrap material
A company has found a creative way to make environmentally conscious clothing for kids, with a line made from off-cut fabrics and threads that would otherwise end up in landfill.
Sir David Attenborough demands MSPs protect ‘globally important’ kelp beds
Renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough has insisted it is “absolutely imperative” that action is taken to protect kelp in Scotland’s waters.
Alan Titchmarsh calls for support for ‘invaluable’ horticulture industry
Alan Titchmarsh has called for urgent action to stop the “demise” of the UK’s gardens, as a report suggests that the horticulture sector is worth billions to the economy.