COP28: outcomes, achievements, and costs

Scottish Government pavilion activities

To support the activity of COP28, the Scottish Government partnered with ICLEI and UN Habitat to host a pavilion in the blue zone. This partnership allowed both shared (and so reduced) costs and increased Scottish Government reach with events at the pavilion well attended. The pavilion provided a platform in the heart of the Blue Zone to highlight the climate action and leadership by the Scottish Government and by non-party governments, demonstrating the importance of delivering climate action at all levels. The cost of the pavilion and office was shared with ICLEI and UN Habitat at a total cost to the Scottish Government of £209,056.

The recordings of all the events held at the pavilion is available. However, as the pavilion was shared, only some of the events were hosted by the Scottish Government. Below lists the events that the Scottish Government and our partners hosted to highlight key issues and contribute ideas and innovation to the COP debate.

Thursday 30 November:

Scotland leading the way

Official Scottish Government opening of the pavilion followed by networking reception. First Minister delivered an opening speech.

Saturday 2 December:

Pavilion welcoming session

The First Minister took part in the ICLEI opening event to the pavilion by introducing Al Gore, former US Vice President, and climate campaigner.

Other speakers included:

• Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director UN Habitat
• Nina Hachigian, US Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy
• Jader Filho, Minister of Cities, Brazil
• Yuriko Koike, Governor of Tokyo
• Renato Casagrande, Governor of Espirito Santo, Brazil
• Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines, and President of ICLEI

Saturday 2 December:

Space as a route to Net Zero

The First Minister provided opening remarks highlighting the strength of Scotland’s space sector, before participating in a panel with:

• Anousheh Ansari, Chief Executive, XPrize, Moderator
• Anna Hazlett, CEO of Azur X, GlobalScot
• Daniel Smith, Founder of AstroAgency, GlobalScot
• Allan Cannon, CEO and Co-founder of Krucial
• Phil Mclachlan, CEO and Co-founder of D-Cat

Saturday 2 December:

Financing loss and damage globally: Malawi and Scotland Climate Justice Leadership

The First Minister provided opening remarks, where he made Scottish Government’s funding announcement on the £1 million to GiveDirectly for cash-transfers in Malawi. Panellists were:

• Brenda Mwale, Green Girls Platform Executive Team
• Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC
• Caroline Tetti, Director of Advocacy of GiveDirectly

Saturday 2 December:

Cross-border collaboration with climate tech action

This event was aimed at underlining Scotland’s convening capabilities on global challenges, demonstrate how entrepreneurship and technology are an enabler in tackling the climate crisis and demonstrate the opportunity of cross-border collaboration in entrepreneurship and technology. This event also served as a platform for announcing the GovTech Innovation Labs, a partnership between the World Bank and the GovTech Global Alliance.

Panellists were:

• Catherine Nikolovski, Executive Director of the Civic Software Foundation
• Joao Vasconcelos, Senior Governance Specialist at the World Bank
• Martin Haese, Chair of the Premier’s Climate Change Council, South Australia

Saturday 2 December: 

Loss and damage: an urban perspective event and reception

As part of the announcement of the £1 million contribution for urban loss and damage to C40, the First Minister provided opening remarks before a panel on urban loss and damage. Panellists were:

• Yvonne Aki Sawkyerr, Mayor of Freetown and Co-chair of C40 Cities
• Atiqul Islam, Mayor of Dhaka North
• Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris
• Nicky Becker, Activist and Co-founder of Hovenus Podecima

Tuesday 5 December:

Equitable institutionalisation of the loss and damage fund: amplifying youth and indigenous voices

This event was aimed at demonstrating Scotland’s commitment to loss and damage with a focus on youth. The Cabinet Secretary provided opening remarks before listening to a panel with the following activists:

• Harjeet Singh (Moderator), Climate Action Network International and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative
• Brenda Mwale, Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, Founder of Glow Foods, and Chief Operating Officer for Green Girls Platform
• Prayas Adhikari, Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, Programme Officer for the Digo Bikas Institute, and author of "Gender Workload analysis In Firewood Collection: Case of Kailali, Nepal"
• Selita Pulini Tikoibua, Pacific Training Coordinator for Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, and Secretary to the Board for Pacific Island Climate Action Network (PICAN)
• Orieny Japheth Odhiambo, Storyteller and Global Ambassador from Youth4Nature

Wednesday 6 December:

Regions4 – subnational governments leadership in driving National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation

This event focused on how states, regions and devolved governments can maximise their impact on NAPs and NDCs. The Cabinet Secretary provided opening remarks prior to contributions from other speakers:

• Mauricio Luna-Rodriguez,  International Institute for Sustainable Development
• Carmen Vogt, Head of Global Section Cities at Deutsche Gesselschaft fur Internationale Zusammenenarbeit (GIZ)
• Nehmat Kaur, Head of Subnational Governments and Under2 at The Climate Group
• Paul Otuoma, Governor of Busia County and Chair of the Council of Governors, Kenya.
• Thiago Pampolha, Vice Governor State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
• Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Governor of Central Macedonia Region, Greece
• Paul Otuoma, Governor of Busia County and Chair of the Council of Governors, Kenya

Saturday 9 December:

Screening of the loss and damage documentary that partners Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) produced about Scottish Government’s funded work in Malawi

Panellists:

• Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Major of Freetown and Co-chair of C40 Cities
• Benoit Charette, Minister for Environment, Quebec
• Sayda Rodriguez, State Secretary of Urban Development and Environment, Government of Yucatan