International network: annual report 2023-2024

Climate Change, Biodiversity and Renewable Energy

The International Strategy presents the key policy sectors that drive activity to boost economic growth, address global climate change and promote domestic efforts along with the geographic areas where we focus our international effort.

Scotland’s natural environment is our greatest national asset. Its awe-inspiring, globally renowned landscapes are vital to our health, our wellbeing and our economy, supporting the productivity of many sectors, and supplying energy, resources and essential natural processes. Despite this, important aspects of our natural environment are under threat as Scotland, like many other countries around the world, is directly impacted by the twin crises in climate and nature. While there is further to go, we are proud of the progress we are making in Scotland. Our innovative Environment Strategy^[9] sets out the Scottish Government’s long-term ambitions and priorities for restoring Scotland’s natural environment and playing its part in tackling the twin global climate and nature emergencies.

Climate change, biodiversity and renewable energy are key priorities of our international activity. This includes continuing to meet or exceed existing environmental standards, backed by our strategic approach to environmental policy and assisting Scotland with its journey to meeting net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases through a Just Transition. We look to market Scotland’s capabilities on energy transition including in hydrogen and wind power, and support renewable energy initiatives in, and knowledge sharing with, our international development partner countries.

Through our international efforts, we aim to further Scotland’s place in the world and attract innovation, investment and partnerships into Scotland. These bring benefits to Scotland and build on our positive legacy on climate policy issues at COP28, COP27 and COP26. They are also part of our international development offer, through our support for renewable energy and climate change initiatives.

Key achievements from our network

China: In May 2023, Scottish Government China designed a display for the King’s Coronation celebrations in Beijing to demonstrate biodiversity links between Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB). The display was showcased to social media key opinion leaders and over 1,000 invited guests.

Ireland: In March 2024, Scottish Government Ireland collaborated with partners to progress cooperation between Scotland and Ireland on developing offshore wind. The work of SDI saw sixteen Scotland-based organisations attend a two-day programme on the east coast of Ireland where they had the opportunity to learn about the Irish market, meet developers, and visit the premises of an innovative Irish company.

Nordics: In September 2023, Scottish Government and SDI Nordics organised a successful energy policy dialogue and trade mission to the Port of Esbjerg. The event included Scotland’s Minister for Energy and the Environment and 20 companies from the Scottish and Danish renewables and ports industries. The goal was to explore how Denmark has secured jobs and economic benefits from its leading position in offshore wind.

USA: Our Head of Office spoke at Arctic Encounter 2023 in Anchorage, Alaska to emphasise Scotland’s commitment to a Just Transition and willingness to collaborate with neighbouring Arctic nations as part of the global transition to net zero.

The rest of this section includes more detailed case studies on:

• how the USA office supports wide-ranging engagements at Climate Week in New York City.
• our engagement in Germany in support of hydrogen energy and trade and investment opportunities.
• Scotland House Brussels promoting Scotland’s energy potential at EU Hydrogen Week.

Case Study: USA

Climate Week NYC 2023

NYC Climate Week is a major annual event in climate and green tech, organised by the Climate Group and running in parallel to the UN General Assembly in September. Our preparations for the 2023 event began months in advance, and required significant resource from the small USA team, involving collaboration and co-ordination across government and partners, including SDI.

The First Minister used this trip to promote Scotland’s leading position in the green transition through various high-level sessions, keynote speeches and discussions. These included a reception with the Clinton Global Initiative, a private roundtable with Bloomberg Philanthropies and sessions at the UN. He also participated in New York Climate Week Live and an event organised by Macquarie. Additionally, the First Minister engaged with multinational businesses leading the way in green innovation and who are considering investments in Scotland, as well as with leading international organisations and advocates. These included the United States Department of State, the

Prime Minister of Iceland, the Director General of the WHO, New York’s Public Health Commissioner, the Sustainable Markets Initiative, and the charity Give Directly.

The success of the week was due to strong collaboration between Scottish Government USA and SDI, with substantial support from the Scottish Government’s International Climate Change team and coordination with other policy areas in Scotland. This resulted in potential investment opportunities, follow-ups on crucial policy initiatives, and strong communications, including a feature in NYC Climate Week’s wrap-up.

The First Minister’s meeting with Ambassador Nina Hachigian, the first US Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, also helped develop closer relationships with the State Department on subnational diplomacy, aiding connections with city and state level leaders who hold key policy and funding levers for climate action.

Case Study: Germany

Strategic engagement with German states in support of hydrogen and trade and investment opportunities

Scottish Government Germany organised a visit to Bremen for the Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, focusing on hydrogen technology. The visit was centred around the Bremen International Hydrogen Technology Expo, which was attended by around 8,000 people. During the visit, the Cabinet Secretary helped open the Expo with a speech alongside Bremen Senator, Kristina Vogt. The Cabinet Secretary also met with political and business leaders from Northern Europe, interacted with current and potential investors, and supported a group of 11 Scottish companies participating in the event. The visit included a successful interview with the Cabinet Secretary, which resulted in positive media coverage of Scotland’s renewable energy sector and hydrogen export potential broadcast on Northern Germany’s regional daily news.

In addition, we organised a visit for the Minister for Trade which centred around the Space Tech Europe Expo, Europe’s largest business-to-business space event attended by around 8,000 visitors, followed by a meeting focused on hydrogen with the Minister- President for Lower Saxony.

These engagements led to several important outcomes. Political and business connections with Bremen and Groningen were strengthened, reinforcing their roles as key partners in linking Northern European ports to the European hydrogen network and international awareness of Scotland’s potential to export green hydrogen to Europe.

These visits provided an opportunity to interact with a significant market for hydrogen, especially in Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and North Rhine Westphalia. These regions are planning to transform in the coming years to produce green steel, with support from European funding, and connect to the European hydrogen network through Germany’s domestic hydrogen infrastructure.

Our relationships with business stakeholders in the market were strengthened, which will support inward investment and export opportunities for Scotland with a focus on energy transition, technology and innovation, and the hydrogen market.

Case Study: Scotland House Brussels

Promoting Scotland’s energy potential at EU Hydrogen Week

Scotland House Brussels used EU Hydrogen Week in November 2023 to promote Scottish energy ambitions, to learn more about EU policies and to build international relationships with key stakeholders. The Minister for Energy and the Environment made her first visit to Brussels in this role and visited the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which aims to become a leading green hydrogen importer, and provided an opportune location to showcase Scotland’s exporting potential.

The Scotland House Brussels team coordinated the Minister’s activities in Brussels, with support provided by Scotland Europa’s energy experts. At the port, the Minister met with ScotWind investors DEME/Thistle Wind Partners to reassure them of the Scottish Government’s commitment to offshore wind.

In Brussels, the Minister spoke at a high-level policy conference in a session on ‘ensuring a resilient EU hydrogen supply chain through the Green Deal Industrial Plan’. This focused on the European Green Deal Industrial Plan (GDIP), as presented by the European Commission in February 2023. This plan, developed primarily as a response to the USA subsidy scheme for clean technologies, aims to tackle the EU’s green industry scale-up challenges amid competition from US and Asia. The Minister’s address followed an opening by Roland Lescure, France’s Minister Delegate for Industry, and a panel discussion between key European interests.

Both the Minister’s conference address and bilateral engagements highlighted to the conference attendees Scotland’s ambitions to be a major hydrogen exporter, and its willingness to be a friendly, pro-European partner looking to further develop its collaboration with EU partners. This was well received in Brussels, leading to the Scottish Government’s participation in several EU Hydrogen-themed events, particularly those under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The visit showcased the benefits of the partnership between the Scottish Government and Scotland Europa. Through its membership-based business model and involvement in Brussels-based thematic networks, the Scotland Europa team were able to provide practical support on the visit’s coordination and accompanied the Minister on many of her engagements. Their knowledge and contacts supplemented the Scottish Government’s messaging on renewable energy ambitions and it’s links with the EU and its members states.

The visit also facilitated in-person engagement with inward investors to Scotland, demonstrating our ambitions for supporting increased trade by enabling Ministers and officials to hear directly from commercial partners on how we can support those looking to do business in Scotland.