The Environment Strategy for Scotland Driving the Transition to a Nature Positive Economy: A Synthesis of Policy Levers for Governments

The Scottish Environment Strategy recognises that the natural environment is Scotland’s greatest national asset. An intended outcome is: ‘Our thriving, sustainable economy conserves and grows our natural assets’. Achieving that outcome will mean transforming the Scottish economy so that it thrives within the planet’s sustainable limits, and is nature positive, net zero and circular. For informing how to achieve that aim that aim, a review of evidence was commissioned to identify frameworks and the components which would be appropriate particularly for transitioning towards a nature positive economy.

The approach used the concept of Economic Operating Infrastructures (EOI) to classify policy levers that can be used by public, private and voluntary sectors for accelerating the uptake of nature positive approaches. Nine EOI policy levers were identified, together with 3 regulatory measures (e.g. multilateral agreements) and 3 economic measures (e.g. pricing resources for stimulating ecosystem services markets). Sixteen case studies of initiatives and approaches are reported, informing recommendations on how to implement the policy levers.

The report provides an element of the evidence base to inform development of a ‘pathway’ for the Strategy’s outcome: ‘Our thriving, sustainable economy conserves and grows our natural assets’, and supported associated research led by the New Economics Foundation titled ‘Delivering the Environment Strategy Outcome on Scotland’s Economy: Evidence Base and Policy Levers’.