COP26 must bring about real and lasting change for generations to come

The transition to Net Zero needs to be fast, but fair and equitable, providing clear and tangible opportunities for all, writes Keith Anderson

There’s just one year to go until the eyes of the world are on Glasgow for the UN Climate Change Conference – more commonly known as COP26 – which will provide a major opportunit y to promote S cotland’s role in contributing to a carb on-free world.

T h i s w i l l b e t h e m o s t i m p o r - t a n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l m e e t i n g o n the environment since 2015, and G l a s g o w h a s t h e c h a n c e t o g o down in histor y as providing one of the most significant milestones on the journey to Net Zero.

A ‘ G l a s g o w A g r e e m e n t ’ t h a t d e l i ve r s a s t r o n g c o m m i t m e n t to change and a clear pathway to how that change will be delivered to meet Net Zero targets must be the outcome of COP26, with innova t i o n , p r o g r e s s a n d l e a d e r s h i p a t t h e h e a r t o f t a c k l i n g c l i ma t e change and delivering Net Zero.

COP is the ideal oppor tunit y for G l a s g o w, S c o t l a n d a n d t h e U K t o s h o wc a s e t h i s i n a b u n d a n c e a n d d e mo n s t r a t e j u s t wh a t c a n b e a c h i e ve d b y wo r k i n g t o g e t h - er towards a common goal and a shared vision.

B y s h o w i n g h o w w e’r e m a k - ing a swift and just transition to a cleaner and greener future not just a possibilit y, but a realit y, we can get the global buy-in needed to achieve a collective and collab - o r a t ive r e s p o n s e t o t h e c l i ma t e e m e rg e n c y t h a t s i m p l y c a n n o t fail.

Let’s not underestimate what’s at stake at COP26. This is our future we’r e t a l k i n g a b o u t a n d we a l l need to be on the same page about what needs to happ en if we’re to have any chance of unlocking Net Z e r o a n d h i t t i n g t h e 2 0 3 0, 2 0 4 5 a n d 2 0 5 0 t a rg e t s f o r o u r c i t i e s , regions and countr y.

S o, it’s a tremendous opportunity to effect real and lasting change that really will make a difference for generations to come.

E n c o u r a g i n g l y, we’ve n ow g o t c o m p l e t e p o l i t i c a l c o n s e n s u s about what we need to do and how we need to do it. At a wider so cie t a l l e ve l , t h e r e i s a l s o d e ma n d f o r c h a n g e – t h e wh o l e p o p u l a - tion of the countr y now absolute - l y u n d e r s t a n d s t h e i s s u e s a n d knows what we need to do.

But we need to ensure we don’t leave anyone behind. The transition needs to be fast, but fair and e q u i t a b l e , p r o v i d i n g c l e a r a n d t a n g i b l e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r a l l – w h e t h e r t h a t ’s a b o u t a c c e s s t o c l e a n e r a n d g r e e n e r e n e rg y, o r e n s u r i n g p e o p l e h ave t h e s k i l l s a n d k n o wl e d g e t o e m b r a c e t h e new technologies and the green j o b s t h a t w i l l h e l p d e l i v e r N e t Zero.

I t ’s v i t a l we k e e p u p t h e p a c e of change now and continue the momentum that’s already buildi n g u p s o t h a t , b y t h e t i m e we r e a c h n e x t No ve m b e r, we’ l l b e mu c h f u r t h e r f o r wa r d t h a n we are now.

For S cottishpower, that means walking the walk and lo oking at wha t we c a n d o b e t t e r, wh a t we can do differently.

Ye s , we o n l y p r o d u c e 10 0 p e r cent renewable electricit y; but we a l so ne e d to lo o k a t h ow we ca n make our wider op erations, our b u i l d i n g s , o u r ve h i c l e s c l e a n e r and greener.

T h a t ’s a l l p a r t o f o u r e f f o r t s t o reduce our own carbon emissions o ve r t h e n e x t 1 2 m o n t h s i n t h e l e a d - u p t o C O P 2 6. T h i n k a b o u t the changes you can make in that time.

S c o t l a n d i s b e c o mi n g a wo r l d l e a d e r o n N e t Z e r o ; a c o u n t r y where the p olitical and the pub - lic appetite to green our environment and our economy are con - ve rg i n g ; a n d wh e r e b u s i n e s s e s like ours are leading and innovating their way towards Net Zero.

It’s difficult to overestimate the significance of COP26 and what w i l l h a p p e n i n Nove mb e r 2 0 2 1 , and Scottishpower will be playing an impor tant role in ensuring its legacy is both positive and lasting.

We all want a better future, but if we get things right and use COP26 as the star ting point for a lasting legacy that will change lives forever, we can make sure we arrive at that better future, quicker. Keith Anderson, Chief Executive, Scottishpower