Scottish Government at COP26: What was achieved?

Demonstrating expanded domestic action

Scotland has committed to delivering a just transition to net zero emissions by 2045. COP26 provided an opportunity to highlight the scale and pace of action needed to reach net zero, and the progress Scotland has made so far, and enhance Scotland’s policies and solutions to further Scotland’s domestic climate change agenda.

The Scottish Government sought to use the international platform to demonstrate the significant challenges and opportunities faced by Scotland and as well as its distinct policies, solutions and expanded action. Activity focussed on Scotland’s approach decarbonisation through a Just Transition, inclusion and public participation in climate change discussions and decision-making, and commitments to tackling biodiversity loss.

Objectives

4 Expand ambition in Scotland’s domestic climate agenda

9 Enhance Scotland’s profile as a global climate leader

Demonstrating Scotland’s expanded approach to decarbonisation (Objectives 4, 9)

Activity that demonstrated Scotland’s expanded approach to decarbonisation, alongside sustainable and inclusive economic development through a Just Transition, included:

• Launching the Scottish Government’s Energy and Just Transition Plan, beginning a process of collaboration and co-design that will shape the Scottish Government’s refreshed Energy Strategy and the first ever Just Transition Plan, focussed on the Energy Sector.
• Promoting Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Action Plan to help make Scotland become a leading nation in the production of reliable, competitive and sustainable hydrogen.
• Hosting & supporting a range of events showcasing Scottish successes in low carbon transport technology, including on bus, rail and zero emission vehicle supply chains including events at the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc.
• Scottish Enterprise supporting the leading Scottish agri-tech company Intelligent Growth Solutions to secure £42.2m of private investment, to drive global expansion plans on innovative approaches to vertical farming technologies.
• Supporting Mitsubishi Electric, through a grant from Scottish Enterprise, to leverage £15m of investment in a smart factory project to increase production of heat pumps, creating 55 new jobs and supporting over 300 existing jobs.
• Announcing the Agriculture National Test Programme, to support and encourage farmers and crofters to learn about how their work impacts on climate and nature.
• Announcing the Clyde Mission Implementation Strategy for low carbon heating projects along the Clyde.

Demonstrating Scotland’s expanded approach to public participation (Objectives 4, 9)

Activity that demonstrated Scotland’s expanded approach to inclusion and public participation in climate change discussions and decision-making, included:

• Exploring the means of delivering a Green Participatory Budgeting initiative which will allow communities themselves to have a say in how funds are utilised in their local area to facilitate a Just Transition.
• Funding the Social Enterprise Fuel Change dedicated to acting as a platform for younger people, allowing them to become truly involved in considering climate related challenges and developing low carbon solutions. This funding will allow the organisation to scale up and bring more schools into the programme to accelerate the programme’s expansion, and enable more young people to become involved in developing low carbon solutions to climate-related challenges.

Demonstrating Scotland’s expanded approach to nature and biodiversity loss (Objectives 4, 9)

Activity that demonstrated Scotland’s expanded commitment to nature and biodiversity loss, included:

• Announcing a new multi-year financial commitment to the Nature Restoration Fund that will fund large-scale, multi-year, multi-partner projects which will help transform and protect nature and drive forward nature’s recovery.
• Signing a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Environment of Chile on the conservation and management of wetlands and aquatic ecosystems. This establishes a framework between the Scottish Government and the Chilean Government for collaboration and the exchange of knowledge and ideas.
• Announcing the Agriculture National Test Programme, to support and encourage farmers and crofters to learn about how their work impacts on climate and nature.