Environment

The vision of a circular economy represents a clear alternative to our present ways of making use of our planet’s resources. While in Scotland today there continues to be a large amount of waste inherent to some of our most common production and consumption habits, a fully circular economy is one in which there is no waste: the economy runs entirely on materials which are sustainable and reusable.

The scale of change designed to tackle climate change over the next 30 years envisaged in the first report by the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland is extraordinary, writes Bill Jamieson.

Scotland has some of the world’s toughest targets for slashing climate-warming emissions, but some sources are harder to eliminate than others.

The early morning milk round – once a traditional staple in Scottish life – is making a comeback.

Villagers in Fife have renewed calls to stop the building of two new gas peaking plants due to fears over toxic air pollution and their impact on the planet.

US President Donald Trump’s speech to the Davos summit shows this self-described ‘very stable genius’ lives in a fantasy world, in contrast to Greta Thunberg and the scientific and business communities.

Donald Trump has decried climate “prophets of doom” and taken credit for a “spectacular” turnaround in the US economy in a keynote speech delivered in Switzerland in front of teenager activist Greta Thunberg.

Many of Scotland’s most precious areas of natural beauty face an uncertain future as analysis reveals the extent of their environmental decline, with experts ranking hundreds of landmarks – from hills to lochs – as being in “unfavourable” condition.

East Dunbartonshire has four beauty spots designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) – and new analysis has revealed that 
33 per cent of them are 
under threat.

Farming is responsible for almost 25 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland, but there are simple changes that can make a big difference, writes Dr Sheila George.

Scotland must take action to protect its most precious environmental sites and wildlife in general.

Arctic sea ice cannot "quickly bounce back" if climate change causes it to melt, new research suggests.

Air quality monitoring stations have revealed the most polluted streets in Scotland, writes Dr Richard Dixon.

Difficult choices will need to be made if Scotland is to become a net-zero carbon economy in the next three decades, a new report has warned.