‘Be present – be a bum on a seat or hold up a sign’

Now that everyone has packed up and left COP26, my hope is we can all ensure Scotland really does become more sustainable. Mostly how we can do this is by showing an interest.

We know government and business change when markets change – when voters get interested in something or shoppers shift their habits.

So engage with it, go along to something, be present – be a bum on a seat or hold up a sign, contact your MP and MSP.

We can all make changes. Whether that’s trying to reduce waste and plastic in our lives, adopting a more sustainable diet, exploring second-hand fashion and tech. Moving money to local or sustainable businesses is really powerful.

Canadian climate scientist Katharine Hayoe says the most important thing you can do about climate change is talk about it – to your neighbours, your friends, your colleagues, children or people at school. Talk about the things we can do, the things you want to do or that you are passionate about.

Many people who read this piece might be thinking, “What difference can I make as an individual?” But sometimes we forget the sphere of influence that we have. You might be head of a team within a business or head of a company; in charge of an event’s catering; in charge of the finances of a firm that could move to green banking; a teacher who could pop COP26 into lessons.

I’m hopeful because we have all these amazing young people coming up who in the next five to ten years will also be getting jobs and will be the people who are working in industry.

As a world we need to slow down our production and our consumption. We know everything we need to do. We just need people to say yes.