2 weeks Ago By David Bol
John Swinney will not attend COP29 - the first time Scotland’s First Minister has not attended the global climate summit in five years.. The Scottish Government has confirmed that SNP acting net zero secretary Gillian Martin will represent Mr Swinney’s administration in Baku.
The global summit starts on Monday and comes with the Scottish Government’s climate strategy in disarray. On Tuesday, SNP ministers succeeded in their plans to water down Scotland’s legal climate targets - with the 2030 aim to cut emissions by 75 per cent binned in favour of five-year carbon budgets. Scotland has missed out of its last 12 annual emissions reduction targets.
Read more: Scotland's embarrassing climate progress will silence SNP on global stage SNP ministers are yet to bring forward an up-to-date climate change plan, while key policy documents such as the long-delayed energy strategy and a blueprint to meet a pledge to cut car kilometres by 20 per cent have still not materialised. The last time a minister and not the first minister attended a COP was in December 2019 when then environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham took part in COP25. Asked why the First Minister was not attending COP29, his official spokesperson said: “We take a view at every COP.
The FM doesn’t always go to COP. “It depends on the programme, largely.” Ms Martin’s schedule will include a number of roundtables and bilateral meetings with governments, international organisations, and groups to discuss ways to tackle the climate emergency.
Read more: Watch: Extinction Rebellion protesters lock themselves to Scottish Parliament She will also aim to set the strategic direction of Scotland’s two year term as Regions4 President, give a speech at a climate justice event focused on learning lessons from Scotland’s approach to addressing loss and damage and take part in the Under2 general assembly as European co-chair of the Under2 Coalition. Ms Martin said: “Our country has a wealth of experience and expertise when it comes to the just transition to net-zero, which can help influence, inform, and shape the global climate debate. “Scotland was the first global north government to commit funding to address loss and damage – and that money is now supporting vulnerable communities who are at most risk of suffering the effects of climate change.
We are committed to continuing that progress and contributing to the finance debate, to ensure it is in line with climate justice principles.” “I will be travelling to COP29 to represent the Scottish Government, share that practical experience and use our leadership positions in global sub-national organisations - such as the Under 2 Coalition and Regions4 - to help drive greater action across all levels of government in tackling the devastating impact of climate change. “Scotland’s commitment to ending our contribution to global emissions by 2045 at the latest is ambitious, but it is achievable.
We know that challenges lie ahead and the only way we can truly meet the need and urgency of the task that lies ahead is by working together exchange ideas and agree shared actions.”.
