Concerns have been raised over Brexit potentially damaging efforts to protect and enhance the environment.

With around 80% of Scottish environmental law originating at EU level, Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said the Scottish Government will "steadfastly adhere" to its environmental commitments, despite the growing threat of a hard Brexit.

Ms Cunningham will meet with her Welsh counterpart Lesley Griffiths in Cardiff later today, 17 August, to discuss their concerns over the EU Withdrawal Bill will damage environmental protection efforts.

Both the Scottish and Welsh Governments fear Westminster is planning to to take control of powers which are currently devolved, but exercised in Brussels.

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Minister Cunningham said: "Imposing a UK-wide framework for the environment risks undermining the significant progress Scotland has made, which has seen us win international recognition for our work on climate change and the circular economy.

"We are not opposed in principle to UK-wide frameworks in certain areas but this must be through agreement  - not imposition.

"Protecting devolution will allow us  to drive forward our ambitious work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance environmental standards and create a cleaner, greener Scotland for everyone."

Ms Griffiths said: "Devolution has enabled the Welsh Government to deliver ground-breaking legislation for the people of Wales, which delivers on international obligations and has been recognised as cutting-edge by a number of international institutions.  The approach presented by the UK Government in the Withdrawal Bill could significantly undermine this progress.

"Our approach has not been about trading off agriculture and the environment, it’s about both.  You can’t have one without the other.  The Bill as it stands has the potential to seriously impact on this approach by locking us into an outdated framework while also removing our ability to bring forward reforms. 

"This is why, like Scotland, we want EU powers in devolved areas to come straight to Wales."

(LM)