21st COP

Scotland’s Low Carbon Journey
Road to the 21st Convention of Parties

Background
Landscapes, location, weather and culture are subtly different in cities and countries across Europe, all with their own strengths, weaknesses and achievements. Scotland is a small country that is putting collaboration and innovation at the forefront of tackling climate change and we want to tell you about how it is successfully working towards securing a low carbon economy and future in a unique, collaborative way.
This is the story of Scotland’s Low Carbon Journey…
Realisation and adaption
During the adoption of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, when Scotland’s target to reduce emissions by 42% was agreed, various sectors of Scottish society began to identify opportunities to support its success. By developing new, existing diverse relationships, between private, public and third sectors and local and national government, and by building on previous knowledge and lessons learned, allowed Scotland to focus on low carbon delivery, rather than procrastinating about responsibilities or accountabilities.
Scotland continues to break barriers to tackle climate change, it hasn’t always been easy, but having identified priority areas has helped focus and channel energy;
transport, built environment, behaviour, waste, land use, energy and most importantly, collectively agreeing which delivery vehicles to use to maximise effect.
The decisions and investments we make today will determine how we live with climate in the future. This is the essence of a low carbon economy.
Working together
Scotland is a small country with a population of five million and clearly it has set a considerable objective to achieve by 2020. Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group gives businesses and organisations the platform and opportunities to work together to reach their own targets. By giving them the opportunity to network, share and collaborate, the 2020 Climate Group embraces a leadership method devised to encourage self- enhancement.
Examples of the work, activities and initiatives undertaken in the last few 5 years can be found on our website.
Communications and engagement
The Group’s desire is to widen its reach and capture the imagination of businesses and organisations by inspiring them to go beyond their normal operations and seize the opportunities that a low carbon economy can inspire.
Our strategy is simple. A call to action – ‘get involved in the conversation and follow in the footsteps of those that have already made an impact.’
Culture and attitude
Scotland’s culture has been shaped by a long tradition of strong-willed and influential characters, across all sectors, and this is echoed in Scotland’s work on low carbon. Each of these leaders has also demonstrated that they are each personally motivated by their own beliefs and values to act on climate change.
Scotland isn’t always good at standing up and telling the world when it succeeds, but in this case, it strives towards international recognition as a leading nation on low carbon, having set itself the toughest climate change reduction targets in the world. However at the same time, Scotland recognises that other countries and international organisations may have a different approach to a low carbon economy and it is keen to engage further with these bodies in the spirit of
collaboration.

The Scottish Government is able to set a long-term, ambitious vision, consulting with all sectors along the way. Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group uses the ambition and entrepreneurship to drive integrity, compassion, morals and values to ensure its aspirations are realised and fulfilled. This openness allows for a positive relationship between business and the government, where government is accessible to a wide range of organisations but is not the driving force of delivery. For example, the Group is a critical friend to government, but the Group isn’t part of government. The Group can do and say things that government cannot.
We believe with a shared ambition we can help other countries to follow suit and commit themselves further in the low carbon agenda.
Examples of successful collaborations in Scotland
• Sustainability in the process and production of whisky
• Retrofit of historic buildings and monuments
• Sustainable legacy of Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Retrofit Games
• Future cities and Glasgow street lighting project
• Political leadership in renewable technology wave and tidal
developments in Scotland
• Green golfing in Scotland
• Sustainable Energy for All: Scotland Lights up Malawi
Come and learn from our story and we’ll learn from others
We have a joint ambition and one that’s not only possible in Scotland – we would like to share our story as widely as possible. We’d like to invite you to visit us in
Scotland, meet some of the key members of the Group and take inspiration from our work, learning and success. Start your own journey, with a journey to us.

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