Scottish Government at COP26: What was achieved?

Platforming marginalised voices to build bridges

Historically there has been a “climate gap” in perspectives on climate change, with the views of those most impacted often marginalised in debate. However, tackling climate change will be one of the most complex challenges leaders face this century, and there is a need for more diverse views and voices in order to effectively address challenges and deliver global solutions.

At COP26 the Scottish Government wanted to provide space, and support initiatives that allowed for those marginalised in formal climate negotiations to make their voices heard and better connected them with those making the decisions. Action focussed on platforming the voices, and causes, of those from the global south, especially women; children and young people; and representatives from cities and regions.

Objectives

1 Influence global conversations on climate justice and biodiversity loss

2 Provide a bridge between marginalised voices and those making decisions

3 Galvanise greater action from different levels of government and civic society stakeholders

4 Empower children and young people to get involved in COP26 and climate action generally

Platforming those from the Global South (Objectives 1, 2)

Scotland gave a platform to stakeholders from the Global South, which amplified their voices in the negotiation room and influenced broader conversations on climate justice and loss and damage. Activity included:

• The First Minister’s partnership and platform sharing with young Ugandan activist Vanessa Nakate throughout COP26.
• Funding and co-hosting the Glasgow Climate Dialogues, with Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, which was designed to engage with, learn from and platform key Global South stakeholders on climate change ahead of COP26. Over the period of the Conference, several events were held to multiple audiences, to disseminate the key findings from the Dialogues and influence broader negotiations on themes such as access, participation and voice; adaptation and resilience; loss and damage; and a Just Transition.
• Hosting a youth panel on loss and damage which facilitated real time dialogue on what Loss and Damage means to youth in both the Global South and North. This event built on a wider programme of Scottish Government work looking at Loss and Damage, and was enabled through the establishment of a Lilongwe Hub in Malawi.
• Funding the Global Citizens Assembly to enable people from across the world to share their views and develop proposals on the action needed to tackle the climate crisis.

Platforming children and young people (Objectives 2, 6)

Scotland gave a platform to children and young people, enabling them to make their voices heard by world leaders and decision-makers, and empowering them to get involved in COP26 and climate action generally. Key activity included:

• Contributing funding to ensure YOUNGO could deliver the 16th Conference of Youth, and the Global Statement of Youth, setting out the views of over 47,000 young climate leaders from more than 100 countries across the world which was presented to Ministers, negotiators and officials at COP26. The First Minister also addressed the opening ceremony to welcome the youth delegates.
• Funding the Young Scot, Youthlink and Keep Scotland Beautiful co-designed online Youth Summit (part of the Scottish Youth Climate Programme). The summit brought together young people, aged 11-26-years old, from a variety of backgrounds and communities, to discuss their priorities for climate action and produced a Digital Scottish Youth Climate declaration which sets out 9 key demands for policy makers to consider.
• Participating in and promoting The Moment, led by the Children’s Parliament, which provided opportunities for 1000+ children and young people across Scotland to hold 80 climate surgeries with over 50 elected representatives.
• Funding two events entitled ReNew the World, including a specific event for young women, at the New York Times Climate Hub, which enabled young people aged 14-17 years old to discuss actions they would like to see to address the climate challenge with influential politicians, thinkers and business leaders.

Platforming devolved governments, states, regions and cities (Objectives 2, 3)

Scotland gave a platform to representatives of devolved governments, states, regions and cities to showcase the crucial contribution that they play in tackling the climate crisis, and help galvanise greater action from all levels of government. Key activity included:

• Delivering the first Multilevel Action Pavilion in the Blue Zone, providing a platform for, and to seek greater recognition of, non-state actors in global decision-making processes.
• Hosting the interactive workshop Climate Change Adaptation Lab: Resilient Regions and Good Governance at the Multilevel Action Pavilion, in collaboration with EIT-Climate KIC and the California State Government, which enabled collaboration on tackling common adaptation challenges between state and regional governments, including Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Navarro, Spain.
• Launching a statement from states, regions and devolved governments, on Adaptation, Loss and Damage day, calling for greater action on climate mitigation and adaptation at COP26. The statement, launched in partnership with the Government of Lombardy and Regions4, was signed by 17 governments and networks, and was presented at the Regions4 High Level Side event in the Multilevel Action Pavilion.