Climate Week NYC visit - outcomes and costs: report

Corporate Report: Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy at Climate Week NYC

1. Overview

The acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy attended Climate Week NYC 21–24 September. Climate Week NYC 2024 convened global leaders to advance the transition to net zero and champion equitable climate action.

The 2024 theme, “It’s Time,” emphasised phasing out fossil fuels, investing in clean energy, embedding climate action in policy, and ensuring equitable access to climate finance. As in previous years, Climate Week NYC coincided with the UN General Assembly (20–27 September).

The Cabinet Secretary engaged in a comprehensive programme of engagements, with highlights including a panel discussion on climate finance, a Scottish company investor showcase, and events promoting Scotland’s leadership roles in the Under2 Coalition and the Regions4 Development Network. The Cabinet Secretary held meetings with a wide range of key stakeholders including Under2 and Regions4 member governments, Global South ministers and parliamentarians, political representatives, and climate activists. Climate Week NYC also served as a precursor to COP29 in Baku, November 2024.

2. Outcomes

The Scottish Government had three key objectives for attending Climate Week NYC, aligning with our approach to international climate change. See the objectives and how these were delivered below:

2.1 Build influence of the Scottish Government G and other devolved and regional governments within the international climate debate

Scotland was announced as European co-chair of the Under2 Coalition for its third term at Climate Week NYC. In that role, the Cabinet Secretary attended the Under2 Global Ministerial meeting, along with other Ministers representing regional co-chairs. She outlined Scotland’s strategic priorities and engaged with coalition members to understand their key challenges and opportunities.

The Cabinet Secretary met with Ministers from other states, regions and devolved governments, to share lessons on green economies, offshore wind and nature-based solutions.

The Cabinet Secretary met with the secretariats of the Under2 Coalition and the Regions4 Development Network, of which Scotland is President, to discuss aligning objectives and strengthening the voice of states, regions and devolved governments.

The Cabinet Secretary participated in a roundtable, co-hosted between the Scottish Government and GiveDirectly, which highlighted practical lessons from the Scottish Government’s work with GiveDirectly to support communities in Malawi address loss and damage following Cyclone Freddy. Climate loss & damage as direct cash transfers: evidence from Malawi | givedirect.org.

The Cabinet Secretary participated in a parliamentary dialogue on adaptation and loss and damage, engaging with ministers and parliamentarians from Colombia, Denmark, Tuvalu, and others.

The Cabinet Secretary spoke on a Climate Week NYC panel focused on the accessibility of climate finance. She highlighted Scotland’s leadership on funding to address loss and damage and its advocacy ahead of COP29, amplifying Scottish Government’s commitments on climate finance ambition.

The Cabinet Secretary met with Kenyan youth activist Elizabeth Wathuti to hear first-hand how young people in Global South communities were impacted by climate change.

2.2 Build and maintain diplomatic and economic international relations to accelerate Scotland’s just transition to net zero.

The Cabinet Secretary met with Anna Shpitsberg, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Transformation, for a discussion which focused on a just transition to net zero and the importance of skills development.

The Cabinet Secretary attended the Scottish Development International (SDI) investor showcase, to learn how Scottish companies were using innovative technology in contributing to global net-zero efforts, and hear about potential investments in these companies.

2.3 Demonstrate Scotland’s progress on climate ambition and action.

During her engagements, the Cabinet Secretary emphasised Scotland’s progress on climate action, emphasising in particular increased use of renewable energy and just transition.

The Cabinet Secretary met with ministers from Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss joint approaches to climate action, just transitions, and UK-wide engagement. This resulted in strengthened relationships and the desire to form a shared position for upcoming UK government engagement and planning further engagements across devolved administrations.

You can find detailed information on the Cabinet Secretary's engagements during her visit, routinely published three months in arrears in accordance with the ministerial code commitment, at the Scottish Government Ministerial Engagements page.

3. Costs

The Cabinet Secretary participated in Climate Week NYC from 21-24

September alongside officials. Please see the officials that joined below:

• Two from International Climate Change (1x C2, 1x B3) (20-24 September)
• One from the US Hub (1x C3) (21-25 September)
• Cabinet Secretary’s Private Secretary (1x C1) (21-24 September)

Please note that hotel details are not provided due to security.

Cabinet Secretary

Accommodation: £1666.07

Travel (flight): £3522.78

Subsistence/incremental expenses (inc food, non-alcoholic drinks and telephony): £72.05

Total: £5,260.90

Private Secretary (C1)

Accommodation: £1666.07

Travel (flights): £1035.78

Travel (bus): £8.00

Subsistence/incremental expenses (inc food, non-alcoholic drinks and telephony): £160.07

Total: £2,869.92

International Climate Change (C2)

Accommodation: £1985.18

Travel (flights): £1043.78

Travel (taxis): £117.46

Subsistence/incremental expenses (inc food, non-alcoholic drinks and telephony): £252.47

Total: £3,398.89

International Climate Change (B3)

Accommodation: £1985.18

Travel (flights): £592.08

Travel (taxis): £319.42

Subsistence/incremental expenses (inc food, non-alcoholic drinks and telephony): £242.15

Total: £3,138.83

US Office (C3)

Accommodation: £1666.07

Travel (train): £232

Travel (taxis): £285.61

Subsistence/incremental expenses (inc food, non-alcoholic drinks and telephony): £254.41

Total: £2,438.09

Total: £17,106.63