Welcome to Scotland's Environment Web

Scotland’s Environment Web (SEWeb) brings together information on Scotland’s environment. Nowhere else can environmental data, information and reports, from known and trusted sources, be looked at in one place.

Within the Our Environment section of the website, a report on the State of Scotland’s Environment is provided; written by the organisations who are working to protect, understand and improve the environment. The report summarises the condition of the environment, why it’s like that, why you should care, and what’s being done to improve it. If you want know more about the environment in your local area, search the Maps or use the “What’s In My Backyard” postcode search, to access a wide range of environmental data collated and published by Scottish organisations and agencies. The SEWeb Library can help you find further information and guidance relating to Scotland's environment from the websites of our Partners. If you are interested in collecting data and observations on your local environment, the Get Involved section provides more information.

The web site is supported by funding from the European Union LIFE+ programme and is part of the Scottish Government’s ‘Natural Scotland’ campaign.

Summary

Our environment is vital to our success and well-being as a nation and is generally in good condition. We must work together to protect it.

The environment is always changing and the website will be regularly updated to reflect this, so that this website provides in one place the most current assessment of the state of Scotland's environment.

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Air and Climate

The climate is changing and air quality continues to impact human health. Immediate action is needed to tackle these challenges.

Good air quality is fundamental to our survival. Scotland's air today is cleaner than at any time since before the Industrial Revolution. This has been achieved through tighter controls on pollutant emissions from industry, transport and domestic sources.

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Land

Land provides a wide range of essential goods and services. It needs to be protected to ensure it will continue to provide these in future.

Our distinctive and diverse landscapes play a key role in attracting many visitors to Scotland as well as contributing to many aspects of our daily lives including our cultural identity, health and well-being.

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Water

Our water environment is generally in a good condition but problems remain. These must be tackled in partnership with all water users.

Scotland's water provides a wide range of benefits essential for our health and prosperity. These include providing drinking water, water for use in industry, energy from waves, tides and hydropower and recreation opportunities.

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Built Environment

Good-quality urban environments are vital for our health and well-being, most people are happy with their neighbourhood but problems remain.

The historic environment makes a valuable contribution to Scotland's economy, generating income and jobs across Scotland, and attracting millions of tourists.

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Natural Resources

Scotland has a wide range of resources that are important to the economy.

Scotland has an abundance of natural resources. We have a wide range of geological resources available for use in the energy, construction and manufacturing industries, making a major contribution to the economy.

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Society

The environment is key to our health and well-being. We should maximise the benefits from our ecosystem and minimise the damage we do to it.

The environment provides a wide range of essential goods and services on which our health and well-being depend, including food, clean air and water. Our environment needs to be managed to maximise the provision of these ecosystem services while minimising any damage to them.

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Wildlife

Scottish habitats are rich and diverse. Healthy ecosystems are vital for our survival but are threatened by some land management practices.

Wildlife and the habitats it lives in underpin the ecosystem services that provide us with food, fresh air and clean water.

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Environmental Monitoring

Monitoring should provide evidence for policy and decision-making, public bodies and others will work together more closely to achieve this.

"Scotland's coordinated programme of environmental monitoring will provide the evidence needed for decision-makers to protect and improve the environment, thereby enhancing people's wellbeing and supporting sustainable economic growth."

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