Scottish Government at COP26: What was achieved?

Mobilising stakeholders

Tackling climate change will need global collaboration and there is a demand to come together across countries and governments, and industries and sectors, to engage in meaningful conversations, learn from each other, build relationships and find joint solutions.

At COP26 the Scottish Government wanted to create spaces where a range of stakeholders could convene, share perspectives and knowledge, and build relationships in order to encourage greater collective action. This activity particularly focussed on mobilising representatives of subnational governments; business leaders and representatives of multi-nationals; and broader civil society.

Objectives

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

7 Built and strengthened partnerships and connections at a global level

8 Raised Scotland’s Net Zero trade and investment profile

Mobilising representatives of states, regions and cities (Objectives 3, 7)

As co-chairs of the Under 2 Coalition, the Scottish Government had a key role in mobilising members of subnational governments to share experiences, strengthen relationships for further collaboration and collective action. Key activity included:

• Establishing the Net Zero Futures Initiative, which in 2021 engaged more than 80 governments from around the world in dedicated learning activities on setting, and delivering, net zero targets.
• Advocating for, and supporting the development of, the higher-ambition Under2 Coalition Memorandum of Understanding to pursue reduction to net zero emissions by 2050 as a Coalition, and individual net zero emissions as soon as possible. The Scottish Government encouraged governments to sign up, with over 50 members having signed, or expressed interest in signing, to date.
• Hosting the Under2 Coalition Leaders' Gala Dinner, and chairing the Under2 Coalition steering group meeting, European Members Meeting and General Assembly, to showcase plans, celebrate action, and agree upcoming Coalition priorities.
• Launching the Just Transition Taskforce which the Scottish Government is funding and which will act as a knowledge-sharing group within members of the Under 2 Coalition to drive progress in the future.
• Partnership working with the Under2 Coalition Zero Emission Vehicle Community and Transport Decarbonisation Alliance on a range of initiatives, including joint events and Scottish signature of a series of multilateral transport agreements. The latter includes Scotland as the first signatory of the ZEV Pledge on public fleets, committing the Scottish Government to phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles in its own fleet.

Mobilising big business (Objectives 7, 8)

The Scottish Government delivered a programme of Ministerial engagements with large global multinationals to discuss future investment opportunities in Scotland which could help address the global climate emergency. The Scottish Government also convened representatives of national and subnational governments and representatives of businesses, multi-nationals and investors to encourage collaboration and action, strengthen partnerships, and raise Scotland’s trade and investment profile. Key activity included:

• Sponsoring the Glasgow Chambers of Commerce COP26 Programme, which included a high-profile event series, a sustainable fashion conference and a trade mission, connecting business leaders who are tackling the climate emergency. The mission was the largest that the Chambers has hosted to date, attracting 173 delegates including representatives of 60 overseas companies from 15 different countries. Scottish Government is working with the Chambers to build on these initial connections.
• Hosting the Finance for Nature event, in partnership with the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI), UNDP, Global Canopy and the Scottish Conservation Finance Pioneer’s Network, to address the global problem of financing the restoration of nature on a Scottish stage. It brought together key policy players from the international, UK and Scottish level, and select high-profile investors which showcased Scotland as a values-led Natural Capital nation to the international investment community.
• Running the Scotland's Commitment to Green Skills: Driving Transformational Change event that brought industry figures together to discuss current actions and what more needs to be done to equip Scotland’s workforce with the skills needed to support a low carbon and circular economy.
• Hosting a Floating Offshore Wind Business Breakfast which was attended by over 200 senior industry leaders, developers and supply chain businesses from the offshore wind sector, as well as international delegations from Brittany and California. The First Minister set out Scotland’s ambitions and future for floating offshore wind, and Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport took part in a Q&A session around challenges and opportunities for the sector.

Mobilising members of civic society (Objective 3)

Key activity that mobilised members of civic society included:

• The Minister for Culture co-hosting a culture reception with the Leader of Glasgow City Council in the Glasgow City Chambers for policy makers and culture stakeholders to come together to celebrate, discuss, and accelerate the contribution that culture is making to reaching the climate goal of net zero. In total 89 guests attended the reception, including international representatives from Switzerland, Italy, Hungary, Nepal, USA and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).