Welcoming the publication of the Report of the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery, Chaired by Benny Higgins, SEPA Chief Executive, Terry A’Hearn, said:
“The Scale of the economic and environmental challenges facing our economy are significant, with a real urgency to act. With both the healthcare and climate emergencies battering our economy, the report is right to highlight the need for a strong green spine to our recovery.
“The global crisis calls for public and private partners to work together in innovative new ways. It’s time to step up, not step back. The separation of economy and environment is dead. As Scotland’s environment protection agency, we’ll work in a powerful new partnership with Scottish Enterprise to drive green growth and to deliver an inclusive, sustainable restart to Scotland’s economy.
“We are delighted that the report emphasises the need to maintain regulatory standards and to focus on innovation in the way those regulatory standards are implemented, including a recognition of the work we are doing at SEPA. This recognition gives us a confidence boost to put the foot on the reform accelerator at SEPA so we can make an even bigger contribution to a sustainable economic recovery in Scotland.”