Local authorities could be given the optional power to introduce a tax on cruise ships that visit their areas in future.
The Scottish Government is seeking views on the practicalities of such a levy, as well as the potential market implications and effect on local economies and communities.
Analysis shows there were around 1,000 cruise ship visits to Scottish ports in 2024, bringing 1.2 million passengers – an increase of almost 400,000 per year compared with 2019.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison said: “The tourism sector is a crucially important part of the Scottish economy and cruise visits are increasing. The consultation will help to inform the Scottish Government’s decision over whether or not to bring forward legislation and it is really important that we hear from a wide variety of voices on this matter.
“Last year, we held events to hear the views of the cruise ship industry, local government, and others. We want to continue the helpful dialogue which started at those events, and explore further what a cruise ship levy could mean in a Scottish context.”
The Scottish Government has no plans to introduce a nationwide cruise ship levy.
The areas that welcome the most cruise passengers are Invergordon, Orkney, Edinburgh, Lerwick, and Greenock, and the average ship in the five busiest ports carries over 1,000 passengers.
A new study indicates animal populations living in urban areas show elevated resilience to stressful environmental conditions, with conservation implications.
Published last week in Ecology Letters, the study was conducted by Queen’s University Belfast in collaboration with the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Germany.
Researchers tested the adaptability of aquatic species, such as blue mussel and amphipods, found in shorelines in urban environments exposed to high ship traffic, compared with those from a remote protected shore.
An urban area can be described as a human settlement with a high population density and an infrastructure of built environment.
The team exposed the animals from both habitat types to a range of environmental stressors under laboratory conditions.
The treatments, which were events or situations that cause stress, reflected current and predicted environmental conditions in the sea, such as rising temperatures, saltwater changes and increased carbon dioxide.
The research showed animal populations from urban areas, with higher temperatures and greater concentrations of pollutants, demonstrated significantly higher resilience to stressful environmental conditions when compared to their counterparts from protected habitats.
Dr Ross Cuthbert from the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s, was part of the international team of researchers, he said: “Our findings indicate that the populations of species differ substantially in their susceptibility to stressors associated with urbanisation.
“These results have important conservation implications, however, it remains to be seen whether these adaptations can keep pace with the rate of human-induced environmental changes relating to climate change such as pollution, burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and more.”
Urban habitats are very different from natural habitats and pose new challenges for animals and plants.
The research was led by Dr Elizabeta Briski, a marine biologist at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, she said: “The results show that populations from urbanised habitats tend to be more robust to these environmental stressors and, are already adapting to changing conditions.
“These populations could serve as potential ‘rescue populations’ for endangered populations. At the same time, their greater tolerance to future environmental changes could make it easier for them to conquer new habitats. This makes them potential invasive species that can be spread by human trade and transport between urban centres.”
Dr Cuthbert adds: “Until now, little was known about how populations of the same species evolve in habitats with and without human influence.
“While the tested species do not directly affect human health, if the processes found indeed worsen invasion risks in general, they could exacerbate known health risks from biological invasions, such as through spread of disease.”
The results of the study support the hypothesis that urban habitats can provide important clues about how animals will adapt to future environmental changes.
A new Outdoor Recreation report from NatureScot’s Scotland’s People and Nature Survey (SPANS) 2023/24 reveals that 61% of Scots engage in outdoor recreation at least weekly, with 17% venturing out daily. It also highlights the importance of urban greenspaces in outdoor recreation.
The survey found that 41% of outdoor visits in Scotland take place in apark or other open greenspace in an urban area, making them the most popular destination. Woodland and forest visits follow closely at 39%.
Young people (16-34 years) and residents of the 10% most derived areas are more likely to use urban greenspaces, reinforcing their importance in ensuring equitable access to nature.
However, residents from the most deprived areas are less likely to engage in outdoor activities, pointing to a need for more inclusive policies and investments in local parks.
People in Scotland participate in a wide range of outdoor activities with walking being the most popular outdoor activity, the overwhelming majority of visits involved walking (93%).
Walking was also the most popular way to get to local parks, overall, 84% of people said they normally walk or wheel to their local greenspace.
These findings emphasize the crucial role of local, accessible urban greenspaces in promoting health and well-being.
As part of the ongoing refurbishment of North Bridge, there will be a northbound closure for six weeks from Monday 17 February.
During this period traffic will only be permitted to proceed southbound (from Princes Street towards South Bridge).
The six-week closure is to undertake resurfacing on both the southbound approach to the bridge (both lanes outside Waverley Gate toward Princes Street) and the southbound departure of the bridge (both lanes from the entrance to the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton on North Bridge to the junction at High Street).
The wider work on North Bridge has included refurbishing the cast iron bridge facades, grit blasting and repainting structural steelwork, repairing and improving the footway paving and underdrainage amongst a host of other improvements. A full list of the improvements and the wider project benefits is on our website.
The council is targeting the end of this year for the end of major repair works.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I appreciate this temporary closure will be frustrating for our residents and businesses. I want to thank them for their continued patience as we carry out these essential works.
“These works are part of the wider project to restore this crucial link between the north and south of the city – and of course preserve it for future generations.
“I’m conscious that this work is taking longer to complete than we had initially anticipated, but this is this a hugely complex project, with the historic nature of the bridge requiring painstaking and specialist work to restore it to its former glory.”
Safety is at the heart of the city council’s fleet, with the entire fleet of new Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) along with their welfare buses all equipped with enhanced safety features.
Edinburgh has taken inspiration from the Progressive Safe System (PSS) which was implemented by Transport for London (TfL) in October 2024 to enhance vehicle awareness and reduce the likelihood of collisions.
There are seven key requirements under PSS:
Camera monitoring system fitted to the vehicle’s nearside
Class V and VI mirrors
Blind spot sensors fitted to the vehicles nearside
Moving off sensors fitted to the front of the vehicle
Side under-run protection on both sides of the vehicle
Audible warning alerts when vehicles turn left
Prominent visual warning signage
In addition to adhering to PSS requirements, all new vehicles are fitted with an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS). AEBS uses sensors to monitor a vehicle’s surroundings and automatically apply the brakes if a collision is likely.
Whilst there are no such safety requirement anywhere else in the UK outside of London, the council took the decision to ensure all HGVs purchased as part of the replacement programme were equipped with the technology to meet this standard.
The city council’s 152 strong HGV fleet is comprised of refuse collection vehicles, road sweepers, road gritters, mobile library uses, construction vehicles in roads services, and utility trucks for maintaining streets and greenspace.
Whilst our 27 welfare buses, which transport children with Additional Support Needs (ASN), are not classed as HGV Edinburgh took the decision to order these buses with the new safety features. These vehicles operate in and around schools and built-up areas during peak travel times so it’s important they are as safe as possible for everyone.
The council has now taken delivery of over 70 of our new HGVs, with all new refuse collection vehicles due to arrive by the end of March 2025 and all other HGVs due to be in service this year.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “I was delighted to go down to Bankhead this morning to see some of these new vehicles firsthand and talk to our colleagues who operate them.
“We have a responsibility to our colleagues and our residents to make sure our fleet is as safe as possible. This is why we’re investing tens of millions of pounds into our fleet.
“With these changes I’m confident that we have the most advanced local authority fleet in Scotland when it comes to safety features. I hope that other parts of Scotland and the UK will look to London and Edinburgh’s example and follow suit.
“Safety is an absolute priority for us when delivering our services and I have no doubt that these new features will have a positive impact.”
SGN has teamed up with Generation Science, an innovative educational programme led by Edinburgh Science, to empower primary school children with insights into future energy solutions and how we can tackle climate change.
The leading energy company is delivering LTS Futures – a first of its kind project – which aims to validate the compatibility of utilising the existing gas network to carry hydrogen.
The success of the project, which is repurposing a 30km decommissioned natural gas pipeline between Grangemouth and Granton, would pave the way for hydrogen transportation on a national scale.
Thanks to a second year of funding provided by SGN, around 380 pupils aged 7 to 11 (primary 4 to 7), who attend schools based along the LTS live trial pipeline, are benefiting from the 90-minute climate and engineering themed sessions.
The Green Machine is an interactive workshop dedicated to unravelling the complexities of energy transfer and renewable electricity generation.
Guided by the Edinburgh Science team of experts, students delve into lessons to refine their understanding and create innovative machine designs.
Recently SGN’s LTS Futures Project Director Nancy Thomson joined the Generation Science team at Granton Primary School, to participate in a session which explored future energy solutions for the Earth’s changing climate.
It looked at different sources of renewable and sustainable energy such as solar, wind and green hydrogen, and how we can utilise them to live in an environmentally responsible way.
Natalie McLaren, Principal Teacher at Granton Primary School, shared her thoughts on the workshop: “I’m thrilled that SGN and Generation Science chose to visit our school – the kids were so enthusiastic and engaged.
“Our pupils responded really positively to the hands-on workshop, and are all using key vocabulary and terms for the energy industry. It got them really thinking about how to conserve energy at home and making a difference.”
Director and CEO at Edinburgh Science, Hassun El-Zafar said: “After an incredibly successful partnership last year, we’re delighted to have once again receive support from SGN for this year’s Generation Science tour.
“Generation Science is our touring programme that brings high quality interactive science experiences into primary schools across Scotland – no matter where the school is based, pupils can enjoy the exact same experience.
“SGN is the perfect supporter for this project, as they share our drive to inspire the next generation of engineers and champion the importance of sustainable sources of energy for our homes.
“Thanks to their generous support, we are able to bring The Green Machine workshop to schools in Granton and Grangemouth.”
We are excited to announce the screening of “When Fish Begin To Crawl” the Cameo Picturehouse in Tollcross on Tuesday 18th February followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers!
This is an award-winning film, co-directed by composer Jim Sutherland and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Morag McKinnon.
Created during the COVID-19 lockdowns, “When Fish Begin To Crawl” showcases the ecological importance of The Flow Country, the world’s most intact blanket bog ecosystem. Spanning Caithness and Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, this ancient landscape plays a critical role in combating climate change.
Scotland Office Minister’s visit to focus on clean energy
Recently launched Skills Passport allowing workers more flexibility to move between sectors
North East companies shining example of clean energy initiatives and economic growth
Scotland’s clean energy future will be top of the agenda as Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill visits Aberdeenshire and Angus today (Mon) to meet with companies at the cutting edge of the green revolution.
Minister McNeill will meet with the iconic Scottish brand, Mackie’s, who have invested in sustainable energy through wind turbines, solar panels and biomass projects at their base in Rothienorman, outside Inverurie.
As part of the UK Government’s commitment to a clean energy future for the North East, the Minister will also visit 3t Training Services in Dyce who are helping to provide training to energy workers looking to transfer their skills and experience in oil and gas into renewables.
Ahead of her visit, Ms McNeill said: “The UK Government is committed to a clean energy future that helps economic growth and creates skilled jobs. We are already seeing fantastic examples of businesses in the North East who are leading the way and showing that cutting their emissions while continuing to grow go hand in hand.
“This is an exciting time for the region. With GB Energy being headquartered in Aberdeen, the north east is vital to our clean energy plans.
“As part of our Plan for Change, the UK Government, alongside the Scottish Government and industry, are working to remove the red tape for our skilled oil and gas workers who are looking to work in clean energy. These people have incredible skills and experience that should be utilised and we are ensuring they are supported through this transition. I’m looking forward to meeting with some of them as well as those helping to train them.”
Jamie Purves, General Manager at 3t’s Dyce training centre, emphasised the importance of upskilling and industry collaboration in ensuring a smooth energy transition. He said: “The North East has long been a centre of excellence in energy, and we are committed to making sure its workforce continues to thrive as the sector evolves.
“At 3t, we work closely with industry and Government to provide the specialist training and support needed to help energy professionals move seamlessly into renewables.
“The Skills Passport is a game-changer. It simplifies the transition process and ensures we retain the invaluable expertise developed in oil and gas. This is about securing a sustainable future while creating new opportunities for workers and businesses alike.”
Working alongside the industry and Scottish Government, the UK Government has recently launched the Skills Passport initiative as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change and clean energy superpower mission.
Oil and gas workers will be able to access the skills passport online, which will initially help them identify routes into several roles in offshore wind, including construction and maintenance – before being expanded over the coming year to recognise other pathways from oil and gas into the renewable sector.
This is in addition to Aberdeen being identified as one of four key growth regions in the UK for clean energy. Work is ongoing to identify the skills support needed in their area to deliver clean power by 2030.
The minister will also meet with Montrose Port, a recent recipient of the Carbon Reduction Award at the Scottish Green Energy awards. The port, which helps service windfarms including Scotland’s largest – SSE’s Seagreen – is currently going through an expansion as demand for renewable projects increases.
A lack of leadership has meant the Scottish Government has made minimal progress towards its challenging climate change goal of reducing car use, according to a new report by spending watchdog Audit Scotland.
In 2020, the Scottish Government said it wanted to reduce car kilometres driven by 20 per cent by 2030 as part of its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. However, the government has yet to produce a delivery plan for achieving the target, which it is unlikely to meet.
Since 2020, car traffic has increased to near pre-pandemic levels, public transport use has reduced, and there has been no significant change in how much people walk and cycle.
The Scottish Government aims to reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030.
This is part of its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
But car traffic has increased since 2020.
And @scotgov has no delivery plan and is now unlikely to hit its target.
Spending by councils and the Scottish Government on reducing car use is complex, fragmented and lacks transparency. Ministers have spent significant sums on concessionary bus travel and active travel but have not considered how best to target funding to reduce car use.
Councils have a key role in reducing car use, but some have prioritised the 20 per cent target more than others. Rural councils face bigger obstacles to delivering change due to geography and poorer public transport networks. Councils need clearer guidance and direction from the Scottish Government on their role in helping deliver the target.
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government set an ambitious and very challenging target to reduce car use by 20 per cent by 2030. But there has been a lack of leadership around delivering this goal.
“It’s now unlikely the government will achieve its ambition, so it needs to be clear how this will affect its wider ambitions to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.”
Ruth MacLeod, a member of the Accounts Commission, said: “All parts of government need to act to deliver the 2030 car use reduction target. Councils need to set out to what extent they will contribute and how they will measure their progress.
“But they also need clearer guidance and direction from the Scottish Government to agree their role in reducing car use in their area.”
, co-directed by composer Jim Sutherland and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Morag McKinnon.
at: 
