Environment strategy: initial monitoring framework

3. Initial Monitoring Framework indicators

A wide range of indicators are used to monitor Scotland’s environmental strategies and plans, building a detailed picture of the status of Scotland’s environment. For many indicators, targets have been established to drive progress, some of which are set on a statutory basis. When developing the Environment Strategy Monitoring Framework, we have not aimed to replicate the full range of existing indicators and targets. Instead, we have chosen a sub-set of high-level indicators to provide a strategic and accessible overview of progress towards each outcome – guided by the criteria in Box A and drawing, where relevant, on National Indicators in the NPF. When reporting progress, we will also signpost to the detailed indicators set out in the individual strategies and plans that sit within the Environment Strategy framework, including the Monitoring Framework for the Climate Change Plan, updated in December 2020^[7]. 

The indicators selected for each outcome^[8] are described below, alongside areas we plan to explore further in order develop robust measures of progress and address gaps. Figure 1 provides an overview of the indicators. Further technical information for each indicator is set out in Annex B.

Box A: Criteria for selecting indicators 

The following criteria were used to guide the selection of indicators. These draw on international best practice and discussions with stakeholders, and map closely to the criteria used to select National Indicators in Scotland’s National Performance Framework. 

• Relevance: There must be a clear relationship between the indicator and Environment Strategy outcome.
• Validity: The indicator must measure what it is supposed to measure.
• Distinctiveness: The indicator must not measure something already captured under other indicators.
• Practicality: The indicator must provide value for money and it must be feasible and affordable to obtain data. 
• Clarity: The indicator must be straightforward to interpret by the intended audience. It must clearly communicate the measure that it is trying to assess.
• Credibility: The indicator must be based upon impartial, reliable data that is precise enough to show change over time.
• Public interest: Indicators must be engaging and relevant for members of the public.

Key:

Centre: Environment Strategy vision

Inner ring: Environment Strategy outcomes

Outer ring: Indicators in Initial Monitoring Framework

* Indicators to be confirmed

** Indicator under development

† A suite of indicators reflecting chemical contamination, marine litter and seafloor integrity

†† A suite of indicators relating to woodland expansion and peatland restoration

Graphic text

Centre: Environment Strategy vision

One Earth.

One home.

One shared future.

By 2045: By restoring nature and ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change, our country is transformed for the better – helping to secure the wellbeing of our people and planet for generations to come.

Inner ring: Environment Strategy outcomes

Our healthy environment supports a fairer, healthier, more inclusive society

We are responsible global citizens with a sustainable international footprint

We use and re-use resources wisely and have ended the throw-away culture

We play our full role in tackling the global climate emergency and limiting temperature rise to 1.5oC

Scotland’s nature is protected and restored with flourishing biodiversity and clean and healthy air, water, seas and soils

Our thriving sustainable economy conserves and grows our natural assets

Outer ring: Indicators in Initial Monitoring Framework

Access to green and blue space

Visits to the outdoors

Active travel

Global environmental impact of Scotland’s consumption*

Sustainability of fish stocks

% of Scotland’s waste managed in Scotland

Total waste generated

Carbon footprint of Scotland’s waste

Material footprint**

Greenhouse gas emissions

Nature-based solutions to climate change ††

Scotland’s carbon footprint

Composite biodiversity indicator**

Air pollutant emissions

Freshwater condition

Marine environmental quality †

Soil health*

Natural Capital Accounts (monetary flows, excluding fossil fuels)

Natural Capital Asset Index

Outcome: Scotland’s nature is protected and restored with flourishing biodiversity and clean and healthy air, water, seas and soils

This outcome is about restoring the richness and resilience of nature in Scotland – for its own sake, and because it is fundamental to our health, wellbeing and prosperity. It means reversing biodiversity loss and improving the health and quality of our natural environment.

Indicators:

Composite biodiversity indicator

A new composite biodiversity indicator will be published in early 2021 and included as a National Indicator in the NPF. It will provide a strategic measure of the status of Scotland’s biodiversity, reflecting changes in the abundance and distribution of a wide range of species. It will draw on data used in the State of Nature Scotland Report^[9], with additional data on marine species. It will be accompanied by a breakdown showing trends for different groups of species. 

When monitoring progress towards this outcome, we also intend to consider key trends in the indicators used to monitor the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy^[10] and Scotland’s response to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework^[11]. 

Air pollutant emissions

Clean air is vital for the health of Scotland’s people and our natural environment. This indicator reports trends in annual emissions of the eight main air pollutants in Scotland^[12]. Scotland is required to meet statutory targets limiting emissions of these pollutants. 

Freshwater condition

The condition of Scotland’s rivers and lochs is assessed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and is subject to statutory targets set through River Basin Management Plans^[13]. This indicator reports the percentage of rivers and lochs that have achieved ‘good’ or better ecological status or potential. Data will be broken down into the following four components: water quality, physical condition, access for fish migration, and flows and levels. 

Marine environmental quality

A wide range of indicators are used to measure the status of Scotland’s marine environment. The following indicators have been selected to provide a strategic, high-level assessment in the Monitoring Framework, broadly equivalent to the perspective we will present on the terrestrial environment^[14]:

i) The Clean Seas^[15] National Indicator in the NPF. This measures the percentage of biogeographical regions with acceptably low levels of chemical contaminants.

ii) The quantity of beach litter^[16] found in surveys of Scottish beaches. 

iii) The quantity of plastic litter ingested by seabirds, as measured by the OSPAR Plastic Particles in Fulmar Stomachs assessment^[17]. This reflects the abundance of floating litter and provides an indication of harm to wildlife. 

iv) The extent of physical damage to seafloor habitats^[18], reflecting the impacts of trawling on seafloor integrity. 

Data on marine biodiversity will be included in the Composite Biodiversity Indicator, described above.

Soil health (to be confirmed)

A recent ClimateXChange project^[19] found that, while indicators exist that reflect different aspects of soil health and its vulnerability to the changing climate, no single indicator measures the full range of relevant soil properties. We are exploring options for undertaking additional work to identify strategic indicators of soil health and will take this into account when further developing the Monitoring Framework. 

Outcome: We play our full role in tackling the global climate emergency and limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C

This outcome is about ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change, by meeting our net-zero targets and reducing emissions associated with our consumption of imported products. It is also about adapting to the effects of climate change.

Indicators:

Greenhouse gas emissions

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions^[20] National Indicator in the NPF reports Scotland’s territorial greenhouse gas emissions as a percentage change achieved from the baseline figure in 1990, including emissions from international aviation and shipping. It is based directly on progress towards Scotland’s statutory emissions reduction targets^[21] which, in line with reporting under the UN Paris Agreement, concern territorial emissions.

Scotland’s carbon footprint

The Carbon Footprint^[22] National Indicator in the NPF measures all of the greenhouse gases emitted as a result of the goods and services consumed in Scotland – wherever in the world those emissions are produced. It includes the territorial emissions directly generated by Scottish households (e.g. through heating and motoring) plus the indirect emissions associated with our consumption of imported and domestically produced goods, across the full supply chain^[23]. It provides a helpful complementary measure to that of Scotland’s territorial greenhouse gas emissions. Playing our part in tackling the global climate emergency means reaching net-zero here in Scotland and also reducing our global carbon footprint.

Nature-based solutions to climate change

The climate and nature crises are intrinsically linked. Nature-based solutions to climate change can play a significant role in removing carbon from the atmosphere, while also helping to tackle biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and support climate change adaptation. Evidence suggests that, at a global level, nature-based solutions have the potential to achieve around a third of the mitigation effort needed to deliver the Paris Climate Agreement. They can also generate employment opportunities and other socio-economic benefits. 

The Monitoring Framework will include the following indicators to reflect the implementation of nature-based solutions to climate change in Scotland^[24]:

Woodland expansion

• Hectares of woodland created per year
• Woodland ecological condition score^[25] 

Peatland restoration

• Hectares of peatland restored per year

We will explore the scope to include indicators that reflect other types of nature-based solutions to climate change, including those involving soils and blue carbon, as they emerge. We will also consider taking account of any strategic indicators of climate change adaptation that may be developed through future monitoring arrangements for the Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme.

Outcome: We use and re-use resources wisely and have ended the throw-away culture

This outcome is about transitioning to a circular economy, where resources are used sustainably and kept in high value use for as long as possible, minimising waste^[26]. 

Indicators:

Total waste generated

This indicator measures the total amount of waste generated in Scotland across all sectors, including household, commercial, industrial, construction and demolition waste^[27]. Reducing the total amount of waste generated in Scotland will demonstrate our progress in moving up the ‘reduce-reuse-recycle’ waste hierarchy.

Carbon footprint of Scotland’s waste

The Scottish Carbon Metric^[28] measures the whole-life carbon footprint of Scotland’s waste. It captures the emissions associated with resource extraction and manufacturing through to waste management, regardless of where in the world the emissions are produced. It complements the Total Waste Generated indicator by providing a measure of the carbon impact of Scotland’s waste, across its whole life cycle. 

Scotland’s material footprint (under development)

A Material Footprint measure for Scotland is currently under development^[29]. It will measure the total quantity of raw materials used to produce the goods and services we consume in Scotland – including materials extracted domestically and overseas. 

As the Monitoring Framework is further developed, we will consider any additional emerging strategic indicators of sustainable resource use and Scotland’s transition to a circular economy.

Outcome: Our thriving, sustainable economy conserves and grows our natural assets

This outcome is about the transformative changes to our economy needed to play Scotland’s role in tackling the global climate and nature crises. It is also about the new opportunities that the transition to a net-zero, sustainable economy will create for Scotland, supporting our green economic recovery and boosting jobs, business and trade. 

Indicators:

Natural Capital Accounts – annual monetary flows, excluding fossil fuels 

This indicator estimates the annual monetary flows of the services supplied by our natural capital. It uses data from Scotland’s Natural Capital Accounts^[30], but excludes the monetary flows created by fossil fuels^[31]. The Natural Capital Accounts are currently classified as experimental statistics. Updates will continue to be made to the methodology used in the accounts and the assets included. 

Natural Capital Asset Index

The Natural Capital Asset Index^[32] (NCAI) is a National Indicator in the NPF. It tracks the capacity of Scotland’s terrestrial ecosystems to provide benefits to people, based on changes in habitat extent and quality. NatureScot is exploring opportunities to further develop and improve the NCAI, including working with Marine Scotland to test the feasibility of incorporating data on the marine environment^[33]. 

We will explore the scope to develop additional indicators that will help to provide a meaningful and robust measure of progress towards this outcome. For example, we will consider indicators relating to investment in natural assets, jobs in green industries, the scale of green finance and other measures of Scotland’s progress in transitioning to a net-zero, sustainable economy.

Outcome: Our healthy environment supports a fairer, healthier, more inclusive society

This outcome is about the transformative changes to our society needed to play Scotland’s role in tackling the climate and nature crises. It is also about the fundamental role of a healthy environment in supporting the health and wellbeing of Scotland’s people; and the positive social outcomes created through the just transition to a net-zero, sustainable society – helping to create quality jobs and promote fairness and environmental justice.

Indicators:

Visits to the outdoors

The ‘Visits to the Outdoors’^[34] National Indicator in the NPF measures the proportion of adults in Scotland making one or more visits to the outdoors per week. There is strong evidence of the mental and physical health benefits of spending time outdoors in nature. There is also evidence of links to economic inequalities, with adults living in more deprived areas less likely to visit the outdoors weekly. 

Access to green and blue space

The ‘Access to Green and Blue Space’^[35] National Indicator in the NPF measures the proportion of adults who live within a 5 minute walk of their local green or blue space. As above, there is strong evidence of the health benefits of access to quality green and blue spaces, and of links to economic inequalities. 

Active travel

The ‘Journeys by Active Travel’^[36] National Indicator in the NPF measures the proportion of short journeys less than 2 miles that are made by walking and the proportion of journeys under 5 miles made by cycling. Active travel can improve mental and physical health. It also helps to tackle climate change and improve air quality by reducing vehicle use. 

We will explore the scope to develop additional indicators to measure progress towards this outcome, reflecting:

• The ways in which a healthy environment and access to nature supports positive social outcomes e.g. for fairness, health, wellbeing and education; and
• Scotland’s progress in improving the sustainability of our society, including the environmental impact of our lifestyles.

Outcome: We are responsible global citizens with a sustainable international footprint

This outcome is about adapting to live within the Earth’s sustainable limits, and ensuring that the overseas impact of Scotland’s consumption is sustainable. Some indicators relevant to this outcome have been included within other outcome areas, for example, Scotland’s carbon and material footprints. Additional indicators are outlined below:

Global environmental impact of Scotland’s consumption (to be confirmed)

We are exploring options for indicators to understand and track the overseas environmental impact of our consumption in Scotland. An indicator of Scotland’s water footprint is already under development^[37]. This will estimate the total quantity of water needed to produce the goods and services we consume in Scotland i.e. our impact on global water resources. We are also considering indicators to help understand the impact of Scotland’s consumption on nature and biodiversity in other countries^[38]. Since there are no suitable existing indicators for Scotland, we will explore which measure/s would be most effective and relevant, and options for developing these.

% of Scotland’s waste which is managed in Scotland

Data are available on the types and tonnages of Scottish waste managed in and outside Scotland. This indicator shows, for each type of treatment (recycled, recovered or disposed), how much of Scotland’s waste is managed in Scotland, rather than being transported elsewhere.

Sustainability of fish stocks

The ‘Sustainability of Fish Stocks^[39] National Indicator in the NPF measures the percentage of Scottish fish stocks which are fished sustainably. Sustainable fishing means fishing at or below the level which the fish are able to replenish themselves, without stocks being depleted. Globally, fish stocks are under pressure from overexploitation and Scotland must play its part in ensuring they are managed sustainably.