We believe that individuals, communities and NGOs have the right to be involved in planning decisions that affect our environment, such as the construction of power stations, bridges, roads and golf courses.

When people are enabled to take part in decision making, this helps to shift the balance of power away from big corporates and developers towards the communities who are affected by these decisions.

Scales of Justice? Photo: Maverick

However, individuals and communities often feel that they haven't been properly engaged in decisions that affect their environment, or feel that poor decisions have been made that will adversely impact on them.

And when people and communities try to legally challenge a badly made decision or a damaging development, all kinds of barriers stand in the way.

In fact, the odds are so stacked against the ordinary citizen who wants to challenge an environmentally damaging decision or act, that going to court to defend a healthy and clean environment has become a luxury that effectively only the very time and money rich can afford.

A healthy environment is a basic right to which we are all entitled, and should all be able to defend. We believe that individuals and environmental organisations should have the right to challenge decisions that will have a serious impact on the environment and that excessive costs and legal complexities should not prohibit them from doing so.

Our campaign

We are working with the Environmental Law Centre Scotland to campaign for legal changes to ensure that the right to a healthy environment is seen as a fundamental human right.

We work closely with Planning Democracy around these issues as they are interested in ensuring the planning system is as democratic and participative as possible. 

We are calling on the Scottish Parliament to investigate the barriers to standing up for the environment, and to urge the Scottish Government to ensure that communities can defend their right to a healthy environment.

Find out more about the campaign.

Our track record

We have a track record in opposing major projects that harm the environment, such as the:

• Harris superquarry
• Donald Trump’s golf course development at the Menie estate
• M74 extension
• Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
• Hunterston coal fired power station
• Second Forth Road Bridge

Find out more

Read our 'Access to Environmental Justice Explained' briefing, and our policy briefing.

Download 'Tipping the Scales', our report on Scotland's compliance with the Aarhus Convention.

Find out more about the campaign.

Find out more about environmental justice.

What you can do

Standing up for the environment shouldn't cost the earth, so take action!

Please support our Access to Justice campaign and donate today.

We are grateful to the Esmeé Fairbairn Foundation and La Fondation pour une Terre Humaine for their support of this campaign.