2026 Scottish Parliament Elections – Plantlife’s Key Asks for Nature
This is what Plantlife Scotland would like the new Scottish Government to do to help nature.
On 7 May 2026, voters will go to the polls to elect a new Scottish Government and Parliament. This parliamentary term will run up to 2030 – a critical period for meeting targets for nature recovery.
Plantlife Scotland wants to see all political parties put action for nature at the heart of their manifestos. We want those who are elected to step up to the challenge with urgency and ambition. This is an important moment for nature – we need to amplify its voice. Let’s make sure that the new Government and Parliament make nature a priority.
Our Key Asks
The next Government must prioritise delivery of new legally-binding targets for nature recovery and set out a roadmap for meeting these targets. Key steps to achieve this include:
- Statutory targets for nature set in secondary legislation, based on the Natural Environment Act (to be passed into law in early 2026)
- Funded package of farm support that will deliver for nature, climate and farmers
- Grassland strategy to unlock the value of the 34% of Scotland’s land which is grasslands
- Meaningful long-term, upscaled funding and action to regenerate Scotland’s rainforest
- Multi-year funding for species recovery, including wild plants, lichens and fungi
- Legislation to end sales of horticultural peat without further delay
You can read more about our key asks here.
What We Are Doing
We are contacting all the political parties in Scotland to ask them to include our asks in their party manifestos. We are sending our briefing to all parties and offering to discuss this in a meeting. Keep an eye on Plantlife Scotland Facebook and X channels for further information.
How You Can Help Nature in the 2026 Scottish Election
You can support the campaign to ask the next Government to make nature a priority. Help give nature a voice in Parliament by asking your local candidate to indicate their support. This could be by email, on social media, at hustings event – it can be in whichever way works for you.
The final list of candidates will be published closer to the elections. You can find out who the candidates are in your area here.
Plantlife also fully supports the Scottish Environment Link manifesto.
