Holyrood’s Climate Emergency Summit

We are in the midst of a nature crisis. This is a global problem, but with just 56% of Scotland’s biodiversity remaining intact and the UK as a whole faring even worse, it is also a particularly Scottish-British problem that we must address.

However, if we first protect, then restore and ultimately value nature, not only will we have regenerated our natural environment, but it can contribute to a reduction of around 40% of Scotland’s net zero carbon emissions by 2045.

This opening keynote from Francesca Osowska will examine the extent of the nature crisis in Scotland and highlight the work NatureScot and others are doing to address it.

Through the Edinburgh Process, Scotland showed that sub-state actors can, and in some cases are better placed to, take a political lead in tackling the nature crisis.

Scotland can and is leading the way with some of the most ambitious nature-climate solutions and projects in the world.

In this session, we will hear about some of the best practices and examples of climate-nature delivery in Scotland.

According to Professor Helm, there is nowhere in the world where natural capital is more important to its economy than Scotland. And with £15.6 worth of natural capital assets on our national balance sheet, you can see why. 

In this plenary address, Professor Helm will outline a vision for an economy in Scotland which is conducive to its status as a natural capital superpower relative to its population size. 

Transitioning to an economic model that operates within our planetary boundaries is the only way that we will be able to restore the natural environment. 

Scotland’s nature-based economy is growing, currently supporting 200,000 jobs. Still, the challenge of changing the way we operate within our current economic model based on produced capital to one that accentuates natural assets is enormous.   

In this session, we will examine both the policy and practical challenges in leading this change and some examples of the benefits that nature and climate solutions can offer businesses.

Agriculture is commonly regarded as the “hard-to-reach” sector in efforts to decarbonise our economy. As the third-largest emitting sector in Scotland, it is clear why we must aim to mitigate emissions from it. 

In this session, we will hear about some of the excellent work and partnerships happening right now to change how we use our land.

According to the United Nations, the extraction and processing of materials is responsible for about half the world’s carbon emissions, and 90% of biodiversity loss, yet around four-fifths (80%) of Scotland’s footprint comes from the products and materials we manufacture, use and throw away, with the average Scot consuming more than double the sustainable level of material use. 

The evidence is clear, our consumption is too high.  When it comes to everything we consume – from flights to food and fashion to furnishings – buying and wasting less would help to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on nature.  We need to change from a ‘make, use, dispose of’ culture, referred to as the linear economy, to a more circular economy where we maximise the value of products and materials we use to make them last as long as possible.  

Scottish businesses have a crucial role to play and the opportunity to be part of the solution. Businesses have the opportunity and ability to accelerate the transition by adopting more circular practices. Businesses are well-positioned to deliver impactful change from incorporating circular design principles and using sustainable, natural materials to developing innovative business models and shortening supply chains. 

Join Zero Waste Scotland in this session, as we exhibit businesses who are already playing their part in future-proofing our natural environment by adopting circularity, the key enabling role the public sector has and underlining the importance of partnership as we transition to becoming a net zero, circular nation.

In this closing keynote address, the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport will sum up our deliberations over the past two days, update us on the Scottish Government’s climate agenda and look forward to what the future may hold.