Question reference: S5W-33640
- Asked by: Gillian Martin, MSP for Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 30 November 2020
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 1 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress on establishing a national Nitrogen Balance Sheet.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to establishing a national Nitrogen Balance Sheet early in the next parliamentary session. The Balance Sheet will offer a powerful tool to improve the evidence base, and better inform decision-making, across a range of policy areas. Improving our understanding of the opportunities to use nitrogen ever more efficiently will have benefits for climate change, air quality, agriculture, transport and waste management.
After an initial phase of engagement with key stakeholders in October, we have today (1 December) launched a consultation on our proposals for the Scottish Nitrogen Balance Sheet. Our proposals include that the scope of the Balance Sheet should extend to all major sectors of the economy and environment and that it should be updated annually after its initial establishment.
Once the consultation process has concluded, we intend to hold a plenary engagement event for all interested stakeholders and individuals in early 2021. We will then prepare a set of affirmative procedure regulations to seek Parliament’s agreement to formally establishing the Balance Sheet in advance of the March 2022 statutory deadline.