We reflect on a year since COP26 in Glasgow

The world’s biggest conference on climate change - the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP27) - is due to start this week in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, but following the signing of the Glasgow Climate Pact last year in Scotland, what has changed, what needs to change and what can we do to combat the joint climate and nature crisis?

Since COP26 took place in Glasgow we have continued to raise awareness of the crisis, and to support businesses, schools, communities and individuals with practical advice and support to ensure they know what they can do at home, work and in their neighbourhoods to combat the climate crisis.

This year, like everyone before, we have scaled up our contribution with the aim of making more impact than ever before so we can support Scotland’s ambition to become a Net Zero Nation as soon as possible.

We set out three clear climate ambitions for us, and Scotland, following COP26, they were:

• to equip our young people and educators with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the challenges of the climate emergency,
• to support Scotland to become a fully Carbon Literate country, and
• to provide greater support and investment in community-based climate action.

Some of the wide range of activities we have facilitated and supported over the past year to help us achieve this ambition, include:

• Launching our Climate Action Schools pledge and framework for action.
• Running online teaching and education sessions for primary schools, secondary Eco-Committees and educators as part as our online Schools Climate Action Week reaching thousands of individuals.
• Providing Climate Emergency Training and supporting almost 2,000 people to become Carbon Literate accredited pledging to almost 4,000 actions to cut carbon emissions.
• Delivering a series of national events, supporting 66 regional and local events and providing funding to 37 groups as part of Scotland’s Climate Festival.
• Working with seven communities across Scotland to develop bespoke plans for climate action.

We also attended and supported the launch of Running Out of Time a 7,200km non-stop running relay from Scotland to Egypt carrying a climate change message from young people to the decision makers at COP 27, a year on from the climate conference in Glasgow.

Catherine Gee, our Deputy CEO said, “We are achieving great things, and scaling up action, but we urgently need to widen and deepen our reach to ensure we do all we can to shift behaviours and support people to become more sustainable in their personal and work lives.

“The reality is that while we, along with many of the partner organisations we work with, are making significant efforts to combat the climate crisis, so much more needs to be done.  And urgently.”

Looking forward we are committed to further stepping up our engagement with people across Scotland and working to mainstream the issue with individuals, communities and businesses, in particular to support those new to the facts and looking for support on how they can take meaningful action.

Catherine added: “We all have it in us to take actions, big and small, to drive the changes needed in Scotland, and across the world. Existing climate action must continue, and new climate action is essential on this pathway to progress.  This isn’t about our environment anymore – it is about the future of our planet and humanity.”

As a charity we are committed to playing our part to ensure that Carbon Literacy and climate action is front and centre of what we all talk about, learn about and act on.

Whatever the outcome of COP27 we will reach out to people of all ages and from all areas of life, to ensure that they all feel empowered to make a difference to the future we all have in front of us.

If you want to learn more about the climate emergency and what action you can take check out our training options.