NICOLA Sturgeon is calling on world leaders to deliver on climate pact commitments as she attends the first full day of the COP27 conference in Egypt.
The First Minister is set to take part in an all-female panel discussion on financing decarbonisation with government leaders, including the prime minister of Barbados.
Sturgeon will also meet representatives from countries in the global south region to hear their experiences of the climate crisis and what they want to see delivered at the climate talks.
She will encourage the message from Glasgow’s COP26 conference last year to be delivered, which commits to reducing the usage of coal and advocates financing the shift to net zero.
Sturgeon said: “COP26 in Glasgow delivered real progress on tackling the climate crisis, with strengthened commitments to curb emissions, build resilience to climate change and provide the finance needed to reach net zero.
“World leaders must use the next two weeks to take meaningful steps to deliver on the promises made in the Glasgow Climate Pact.
“We are gathering against a tense backdrop and the geopolitical landscape has changed significantly in the last year, not least as a result of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“However, the climate crisis has not gone away and the answer to many of the global crises we face, such as energy security and food shortages, lies in going faster.
“For many countries, particularly in the Global South, this must be the COP where the Global North not only delivers on its promises to finance adaption and mitigation, but recognises the need to address the loss and damage experienced by countries already impacted by climate change.”
Scotland became the first developed nation to commit to finance that addresses loss and damage, with other countries, such as Denmark, following suit. The Scottish Government pledged £2 million from the Climate Justice Fund to fund the project.
The Scottish Greens called on Rishi Sunak (above) to show world leaders the UK is ready to get serious over the climate crisis by announcing a “massive and meaningful” windfall tax on oil and gas companies.
They challenged him to use his hastily arranged trip to Egypt to show he will stand up to the energy sector by making clear that excessive profits, such as those announced by Shell and BP, this month will be targeted. And they urged him to go even further by announcing a ban on new licences for fossil fuels to demonstrate “real leadership”.
Scottish Greens climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP said: “We are beyond time to act, we aren’t seeing nearly enough effort to save our planet and recent events show Westminster is only making matters worse.
“The goal of 1.5C effectively died during the UK’s COP Presidency, millions more will now suffer as a result. Keeping the world to below 2C of warming is now on a knife edge, but will also slip away without dramatic change.
“Scotland and the UK should be a renewable energy powerhouse, instead this Tory government seems hell bent on locking us in the past.
“COP27 however provides the new Prime Minister with his first opportunity to demonstrate real commitment to tackling the climate crisis by showing he is willing to stand up to big oil and gas and set the country towards a new, cleaner future.
“By imposing a massive and meaningful windfall tax, without the kind of ridiculous loopholes the last attempt baked in, he can send a message that the age of the North Sea being plundered for profit at any cost is finally over, that people matter more.
“In doing so he could bring almost immediate relief to millions of families facing a winter of soaring energy costs and bills, raising much needed funds that can be used to accelerate a fair Just Transition for the sector.
“He could also surprise other countries by showing real courage and leadership of the kind other northern nations like Denmark have, rather than reverting to Tory form.
“Drilling is not the answer. Attempting to extend the life of this dying industry while its workers are being left behind is not the answer.”
