The right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment was recommended by the Scottish government’s National Taskforce for Human Rights Leadership in 2021 and included in its 2023 consultation on a Human Rights Bill. The then social justice secretary described its recognition, within devolved competence, as a “necessary and important step for Scotland now to take”.

The organisations warn that the government’s subsequent concerns about the strength, scope and coverage of duties attached to the right have raised fears it may be excluded from the bill.

The letter notes that 166 out of 193 UN member states legally recognise the right, which the UN regards as an important means of holding public bodies and polluters to account. It also cites the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ position that a healthy environment is essential to the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.

Signatories argue that incorporating the right into Scots law could influence budgetary and strategic decisions on food and energy insecurity, health inequalities, biodiversity loss and climate targets.

The coalition includes environmental, human rights, health, faith, trade union and community organisations, including Human Rights Consortium Scotland, the Poverty Alliance, Together: The Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights, Inclusion Scotland, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and Scottish Environment LINK. Former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment Professor David R. Boyd has also endorsed the letter.

Shivali Fifield, chief officer at the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland, said extreme heat, wildfires, floods and storms were already affecting Scotland, with children, older people, disabled people and those with health conditions particularly vulnerable.

“Everyone deserves their human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment - access to affordable healthy food, nature-rich green space and  sewage-free water should not be a privilege,” she said.

Lisa Hough-Stewart, director of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland, said a healthy climate and natural environment were fundamental to economic prosperity, arguing that enshrining the right would help ensure public spending and strategy prioritised people and the planet.

Amanda Grimm, advocacy lead at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, said excluding the right would send a signal that the government was abandoning its commitment to tackling the climate emergency.

Professor Jill Belch, chair of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh’s Advisory Forum on the Environment, said protecting the right was important for preventing ill health, reducing health inequalities and easing avoidable pressure on the NHS.