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COP26
COP26: a significant opportunity for Scotland
COP26 will take place in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021 and is set to be one of the most important climate conferences in our lifetime. It's also a significant opportunity to showcase Scotland as a global leader in sustainable and inclusive economic development and to create opportunities to help refocus Scotland's economy on a net zero future.
Net zero by 2045
Scottish Government's ambition for Scotland
£5 trillion a year
potential worldwide spend on decarbonised infrastructure up to 2030
75% reduction in carbon emissions
in Scotland by 2030 (compared with 1990 baseline)
The UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties 26 (COP26) will take place in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021. Set to be one of the most important climate conferences in our lifetime, it will bring together heads of state, climate experts and campaigners to agree co-ordinated action to tackle climate change under the Paris Agreement.
Glasgow was chosen as host city due to its experience, commitment to sustainability and world-class facilities. Scheduled to take place across the main SEC Centre, the Armadillo and the Hydro in the city, around 30,000 delegates are expected to attend, including world leaders and policy makers.
COP 26 is a significant opportunity to showcase Scotland as a global leader in sustainable and inclusive economic development and to create opportunities to help refocus Scotland's economy on a net zero future.
Innovation and Investment Zone
Over the 12 days of COP26, Scotland’s Innovation and Investment Zone will be part of a wider Climate Action event space. Scottish Enterprise and our partners will use this space to showcase businesses who are leading the way, demonstrating Scotland’s ambition and innovation.
Through our compelling story of collaboration and solutions, we'll create a vision of our net zero future and the real progress being made.
Scotland has the talent, skills, and the people to make a significant contribution in the fight against climate change. Critical to achieving our ambition for Scotland to be net zero by 2045, is our innovative approach, with inclusive growth and collaboration at its heart.
Innovation and investment are the cornerstones to accelerate the transition to net zero, both in Scotland and globally. Our vision for the zone is of participation and conversations, on how we can collaborate to take action, with Scotland and our businesses at the forefront of that transition.
Inspiring Scottish businesses
We aim to use COP26 to inspire Scottish businesses to:
- Go further and faster towards a net zero transition
- Attract new capital investment
- Showcase Scotland as a world-class business location for green projects
- Promote Scottish net zero solutions to the world
This is a key element of our business plan and net zero framework, and wider Scottish Government policies around net zero, just transition and inward investment.
More information on our exciting programme will appear here soon.
To find out more, contact: enquiries@scotent.co.uk
Read more about the Innovation Zone from Climate Action.
What is net zero?
The term net zero is used by governments, businesses, a whole range of organisations to describe their ambitions to reduce their carbon emission levels.
We’ll reach net zero when the amount of greenhouse gases we produce is no more than the amount of gases that we take away from the atmosphere.
Watch David Rennie, Head of Trade at Scottish Development International, talk about net zero and our commitment to helping businesses achieve their own net zero ambitions.
Our net zero framework
We're putting net zero at the heart of everything we do.
Our net zero framework outlines our approach to help tackle climate change and address biodiversity loss. It focuses on economic opportunities that deliver benefits to the environment and society.
Find out how we'll help shape Scotland’s net zero economic transition.
Climate emergency and opportunity
The climate emergency is also a climate opportunity. The scale of environmental challenge facing humanity is enormous and we have a real urgency to act.
Scotland was the first country in the world to declare a climate emergency and has set a world-leading target of being net zero by 2045.
The impact of Covid-19 is unprecedented and has changed the economy and way people live, but it's also shown what can be done to reduce travel, work remotely and improve local supply chains.
Business sustainability
Sustainability means developing the capacity to endure.
Find out about the benefits of sustainable business practises and how our sustainability specialists can help your business work more efficiently, build resilience and take advantage of net zero and climate change opportunities.
Read more about business sustainability
Supporting a green economic recovery
Scottish businesses are leading the world in embracing the economic opportunity of climate innovation and we stand ready to support climate investment and innovation at home and from across the globe.
We'll do everything we can to support a green economic recovery. Scotland’s public partners are collaborating around the economic and environmental opportunities, making it simple for businesses to invest and prosper.
We’ll encourage more Scottish businesses to seize the climate opportunity whilst supporting investment from global companies who want to be part of Scotland’s success.
Scotland's leading role in a sustainable, low-carbon future
There are many challenges and opportunities as Scotland transitions to net zero.
With its abundant natural resources, culture of innovation, unrivalled government support and world-class research and development facilities, Scotland is ideally placed to play a leading role in the journey to a low-carbon future.
Race to Zero
There's never been greater awareness of the need to reduce emissions for the good of the planet, or a better time to start. The UN’s Race To Zero is a global campaign bringing together businesses, cities, regions and investors to help create a healthy, resilient and zero carbon recovery. Over 3000 businesses across the globe have already signed up to the initiative.
Find out how to get involved on the UN Climate Change website.
Need some expert advice?
Our specialists are on hand to answer your questions and can help you work more efficiently, build resilience and take advantage of net zero and climate change opportunities.