Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)

Our environment is a complex mix of materials and processes which, together, provide the natural resources and support systems, or ‘ecosystem services’, which sustain all life on earth.

Our society and our economy depend on these services, which is why protecting and improving our environment is absolutely essential.

Our role in protecting the environment and human health is wide-ranging, including environmental regulation, mitigating and adapting to climate change, monitoring and reporting on the state of our environment, raising awareness of environmental issues, engaging with the public through citizen science projects, and resolving environmental harms.

This section of our website explains more about who we are; our aims, objectives and values; how we work and what our people do; and how you can play your part in helping to protect our environment.

The broad framework within which SEPA operates is set out in a framework document, which also defines key roles and responsibilities which underpin the relationship between SEPA and the Scottish Government. While this document does not confer any legal powers or responsibilities, it forms a key part of SEPA’s accountability and governance framework.