Good morning, convener. I thank the committee for inviting me along to outline the Scottish Government position ahead of the upcoming UN Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting—COP21—in Paris, which will convene later this month.
We very much hope that the treaty that will be agreed during COP21 will be a big step forward in the fight against climate change.
Over the course of this year, I have communicated a clear message that the international community will need to match Scotland’s strong ambition and action by building on the COP21 outcome in the years ahead. Unchecked, greenhouse gases could warm the planet by more than 4°C, and we want to avoid the worst impacts of climate change falling on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
Last week, at an event that was hosted by the United States consulate in Edinburgh and WWF Scotland, and which was attended by young leaders from the 2050 climate group, the new US principal officer in Scotland, Susan Wilson, set out President Obama’s very strong commitment to the climate change agenda, and France's new consul general in Scotland, Emmanuel Cocher, spoke about how a change in approach by the US and China has now put a climate treaty within reach. Scotland is strongly supporting efforts by the United Kingdom, the European Union, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the USA and France to secure an ambitious, comprehensive, robust, transparent, credible and durable international climate agreement.
More than 150 countries, covering about 90 per cent of global emissions, have made new climate pledges, which is a huge step forward from the coverage of the Kyoto protocol. The pledges, which might limit earth’s warming to about or below 3°C, have been called “unprecedented”, “impressive” and “remarkable” by the International Energy Agency. With regard to the draft treaty text, French climate change ambassador Laurence Tubiana said that
“While much work remains, the text is a good basis for negotiations”.
It is certainly a good start, but we need to work hard to raise ambitions even further. There are still big issues to be resolved at COP21, including five-yearly reviews of the global ambition to deliver the 2°C goal, the central issue of climate finance for developing countries, and a long-term goal to provide certainty about the global transition to low carbon.
I will attend COP21 as part of the UK delegation. The First Minister is also extremely keen to attend, so we are looking at suitable opportunities. Scottish civic society will also be represented. Eco-Congregation Scotland is taking the climate justice baton, which has been travelling around Scotland. Our 2050 group of young people is holding an event on 4 December, and the 2020 group is having an event on 10 December.
There is no doubt that, in international terms, Scotland has a very strong story to tell. We have cut our emissions by 38.4 per cent since 1990, and we have delivered our target to provide 500MW of community renewables five years early and our target of a 13 per cent reduction in energy consumption seven years early. To help to mitigate the impact of climate change on those who have done the least to contribute to it but who are, nevertheless, most affected by it, we have been supporting developing countries to meet the challenges of climate change with £3.8 million from our international development fund since 2012 for community energy projects in Malawi, and with £6 million from our innovative climate justice fund for 11 water adaptation projects in Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania and Rwanda.
When I met Christiana Figueres, the UNFCCC’s executive secretary, in July at the world summit climate and territories, she strongly praised Scotland’s work and has since stated that we are a “shining example” for other countries; we have been extremely keen to promote this shining example to the international community. In the past year, Scotland has become a member of the compact of states and regions, which is an international reporting platform that represents 12.5 per cent of global gross domestic product and more than 325 million people worldwide. That demonstrates the collective impact of sub-national governments. I also signed up to the under 2 MOU—“Subnational Global Climate Leadership Memorandum of Understanding”—which is an initiative that is being promoted by the state of California aimed at catalysing action ahead of the COP.
Whatever the outcome in Paris, a clear signal from the COP21 conference will be boosted by strong action from the many non-nation-state actors—devolved, state and regional governments, cities, businesses, and the public—to bring, we hope, the 2°C goal within reach. This Government and Scotland will be doing everything possible to promote a positive outcome, and I am keen to take to Paris a strong message from this committee and the Parliament.
I am happy to answer members’ questions.
10:30