BREAKING NEWS! Edinburgh City Council Committee REJECT the application for a 210MW Data Centre at Edinburgh Gyle This was refused on the ground of: Contrary to NPF4 policy 1 - as it does not address the climate crisis 1/2

BREAKING NEWS! Edinburgh City Council Committee REJECT the application for a 210MW Data Centre at Edinburgh Gyle This was refused on the ground of: Contrary to NPF4 policy 1 - as it does not address the climate crisis 1/2

When I was writing this Op Ed I had the title 'Why AI could kill us all, but just not in the way that you think' in my head, but I think The National have gone one better. A reference to '...this One Neat Trick' clickbait perhaps?

There is near universal support for Green Belts ad countryside protection, as we found in a survey commissioned to mark the centenary of CPRE and APRS. Read more in this article!

A hyperscale data centre proposed for Edinburgh is planning to use diesel generators for back-up power which, when in use, would be the equivalent to over a hundred thousand idling diesel cars. We've worked out this would be a tower of cars 28 tall over the entire site. aprs.scot/diesel-gen...

We've just sent out our supporter and member bulletins - have a read here about all the things we've been up to - and subscribe to read more of this kind of stuff.

Data Centre Lobbyists "we probably should spend tens of millions of dollars on messaging" Us "we've got three part time members of staff and a few volunteers and we're READY!" Join our campaign! aprs.scot/data-centr... see story in the FT: www.ft.com/content/f...

It's Three Kings Day today and traditionally the day that people take down the Christmas decorations. So today we take down the Santa Hat from our logo until next year, and get geared up for a busy busy year of campaigning for Scotland's countryside Happy New Year everyone!

Q: How many times could you go  'Back to the Future' on the energy that would be consumed by new data centres being planned in Scotland?   A: Here's a clue - it's much more than our peak winter energy demand in Scotland. aprs.scot/news/1-21g... more in thread...

Did you know energy demand from data centres in Scotland's planning system would double Scotland's energy use? You can see the data centres we found in our investigations of the planning portals on our website.

Today NESO announced a moratorium on battery storage in their announcement of the reform of grid connections. This comes four days after we published our battery storage report showing the over capacity in the system and calling for a moratorium. aprs.scot/news/neso-...

Today's announcement from NESO on grid prioritisation backs up our research launched last week on the over provision of battery storage in the planning system. The data they shared with the announcement show just how much battery storage is clogging up the system (see table below). thread ... 🧵

Here's our attempt at clickbait to draw attention to our new report on Battery Storage and the Planning System .... 📢 Checkout this interactive map to find out if battery storage is planned near you. 🧐

We're just building up to the Wednesday launch of our big report on Battery Storage revealing how overcapacity the system is. Have a look at a preview of our map to see where battery projects are going in near you. aprs.scot/resources/... Sign up for our webinar launch! aprs.scot/battery-st...

So the UK Government can reduce electricity bills for data centres coming to Scotland, but it can't find a way to reduce bills for ordinary people? What is going on? itbrief.co.uk/story/... join our Data Centre Campaign here: aprs.scot/data-centres/

📢 On Sat 15th Nov join Scotland’s Climate March in Glasgow to demand a better world for all on the COP30 Global Day of Action. Assemble at 11am, Glasgow Green. Global Solidarity. A Fair Transition. Caring For Our Planet. Join the action: climatemarch.scot #ScotlandsClimateMarch

​Our Winter Webinars with @plandemoc.bsky.social are back! Starting in November and running monthly, ending with an in-person event in April 2026. Our first webinar on 10 Nov will look at the historic environment and how that interacts with the planning system. Sign up: aprs.scot/event/join...

Action to Protect Rural Scotland is rightly baffled as to why AI data centres don't have to submit environmental impact assessments. Sign their petition! @aprscotland.bsky.social www.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

​Our new data centre campaign is calling on Scottish Government to make Environmental Impact Assessments compulsory for data centres and to issue strict standards for energy efficiency and water use. Join us in taking action: visit the campaign site and sign our petition: www.aprs.scot/data-c...

Sign our petition to call on the Scottish Government to demand Environmental Impact Assessments on Data Centres and to issue strict standards for energy efficiency and water use. actionnetwork.org/petitions/ca...

Today we are launching a campaign on the environmental impact of data centres. aprs.scot/news/why-a... But hold on... a countryside charity working on data centres? that's intriguing... Why is that?

We took part in the Stop Climate Chaos mass lobby yesterday. Around 500 people registered to lobby their MSPs for greater climate action and hundreds showed up to speak to their MSPs

The circular economy, and along with it repair and reuse, could be slipping down the UK-wide political agenda. We have signed a joint letter, co-ordinated by @therestartproject.org, to Emma Reynolds, new DEFRA minister, reflecting our support for policies put forward in the #RepairReuseDeclaration.

This week the world gathers in Geneva to agree the Global Plastics Treaty. We've signed a Friends of the Earth Scotland letter to the First Minister calling for more ambition on plastics. It's a whole year since the Circular Economy Act was passed - action is needed now. aprs.scot/what-we-sa...

A Battery Storage facility on a Green Belt site near to the famous Cochno Stone in Faifley has been given the go ahead. We objected to the development which has been heavily opposed locally and will impact on an important array of Neolithic cup and ring marked rocks. aprs.scot/cochno

We haven't been moping about since Galloway National Park was cancelled - we dived straight into working on the National Park section of the Natural Environment Bill. It's been a great opportunity to look at the process of designation and possible changes in future. aprs.scot/news/still...

Welcome to our new Office Manager and Administrator Laura MacLeod - we are so delighted to have her on the team. Nina Sobecka retired at the end of June after 13 years with us but she is continuing a volunteer on the Oral History project, so she will still be around! aprs.scot/news/welco...

We are starting a new research project on energy - especially looking at the volume of planning applications for battery storage as so much is appearing on Green Belt sites. We have two amazing volunteers working on it - look out for the report in September! aprs.scot/news/energ...

This week an updated Landscape Charter, has been published by The Scottish Landscape Alliance. The document, endorse by Scottish Government, a vision of how Scotland’s communities, land managers and public bodies can contribute to enhancing Scotland’s landscapes. aprs.scot/news/updat...

Governments always seem to prioritise the benefit of landowners and big business rather than the people who voted for them. God knows national parks aren't perfect, but they're better than the free-for-all that blights the outdoors elsewhere. Actual APRS report here - aprs.scot/news/how-mis...

This is powerful analysis from @kat-jones.bsky.social of @aprscotland.bsky.social. If national parks are to be a mainstay of how we protect nature, enhance access and provide lasting community benefit (and I firmly believe they are) then a bolder approach is needed. aprs.scot/news/misinfo...

How misinformation brought down a National Park. APRS Director @kat-jones writes in The Herald about the vested interests that brought down the proposed Galloway National Park and why this is a sobering lesson for all environmental campaigners. www.heraldscotland.com/politics/hol...

@aprscotland.bsky.social Director Kat Jones on the campaign that banjaxed a Galloway National Park and another poorly conducted consultation by the Scottish Government: #Galloway #ScottishEnvironment 🌱 #LandManagement

How misinformation brought down Scotland's next National Park Analysis shows misinformation had an impact on decision making, and the Park was scrapped, despite Government knowledge that most of the arguments being used against the National Park had no basis in evidence. aprs.scot/news/how-mis...

Galloway Park proposal brought down by an opaquely funded misinformation campaign & a decision making process that relied on weighing the responses on a scale rather than considering their merits - excellent from @kat-jones.bsky.social at @aprscotland.bsky.social aprs.scot/news/misinfo...

How can we use lobbying laws to challenge the influence of big businesses and wealthy individuals in politics? Join our webinar to hear about how our lobbying laws work and discuss whether they need to be strengthened to prevent corruption. 🗓️ 02/07, 3.30-5pm 🎟️ Book: www.ercs.scot/news/lobbyin...

@georgemonbiot.bsky.social with the axing of the Galloway National Park yesterday, you may be interested in this analysis of the anti-campaign's tactics. It might go someway to explaining how something like this could happen, and how it can happen to other campaigns. aprs.scot/news/environ...

"The news that Galloway is no longer under consideration to be Scotland’s next National Park should send a chill down the spine of everyone campaigning to make the world a better place." Our reactions to the axing of the planned Galloway National Park yesterday aprs.scot/press-releas...

We made the front page of the Herald! Full story is on STV website news.stv.tv/politics/min...

The Scottish Government will make an announcement on a Galloway and Ayrshire National Park on Thursday. We, along with our friends in Galloway and are calling on the Cabinet Secretary to designate the Park without delay. aprs.scot/press-rele...

Will you be out and about in the hills this summer and do you love maps? We want to find out what the locations pictured in a 1936 APRS Booklet look like today. Can you help find and photograph them? aprs.scot/news/do-you-... @christownsend.bsky.social @mtn-trng-scotland.bsky.social

It's the last chance to have your donation to APRS doubled! Thank you to so many people who have helped us raise £13,000 so far. Please help us reach our target of £20,000 by the deadline of 12 noon! donate.biggive.org/c...

Are you going out and about in the hills this summer and can track down what any of the places from this 1936 booklet from our Archive look like today? Send us your photos and we'll put them on our webpage. aprs.scot/news/do-yo...

Are you going out and about this spring and can help us find these locations from an APRS publication from 1935? What do they look like today? aprs.scot/news/do-yo...

We're excited to be part of The Big Give again this year where all donations to APRS are doubled. It starts on 22 March so please do consider giving to us - the page goes live this time next week www.aprs.scot/BigGive

The Biosphere strongly support a new National Park in Galloway and are encouraging local people to respond to the consultation

Online survey: An opportunity to express your views on the benefits that could come from creating a 3rd National Park in Scotland (Galloway & South Ayrshire). An opportunity to create a shared vision for land, coast, nature and people. ⬇️ newnationalparkgalloway.commonplace.is/en-GB/propos...

💚 Happy Valentine's! 💚 Today is the last day that you can show the love for a Galloway National Park by responding to the official consultation. The short consultation is really easy to take part in, and you only need to answer the questions you want to. www.smartsurvey.co.u... 1/3

Episode one ✅

Just a reminder that this is on NOW! I'm on at 8pm and I will be asking: are we being gaslit on ecology by the planning system? 🤔