Scottish charities urge negotiators to listen and act on the priorities of communities on the frontlines of the devastating climate crisis
Midway through the UN climate conference, COP26, a group of over 60 Scottish charities says time is running out to ensure the talks in Glasgow are remembered for delivering climate justice. It says that for this to happen, the voices of people most affected by the climate emergency must be listened to and acted upon.
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) is hosting a series of events [1] at COP26 to promote the demands of people most affected by the climate crisis and to elevate the demands of the most marginalised people. The priorities were gathered through the Glasgow Climate Dialogues, co-hosted with the Scottish Government in September, and published in a communiqué [2].
The events have featured compelling accounts from people from around the world, about the climate impacts they are experiencing, and what they want countries to commit to in Glasgow.
At a Glasgow Climate Dialogues event [3], Margaret Masudio, a smallholder farmer involved in an Oxfam project in Uganda, said the climate crisis is creating deep impacts on food production. She said:
“When we say that climate change is affecting us so much, people should listen and take action. If you don’t take action, who will feed the families? Who will feed the nations? Who will feed the world?
“We are addressing the symptoms; not the root cause of climate change. We need to look at the reduction of global warming and who’s causing it and why.
“COP26 should address inequality and climate change. There are solutions. Every year matters, each decision counts, every 0.1 degrees is crucial.”
A key area for action is addressing the damage caused by irreversible climate impacts, like sea level rise. Earlier this week, the Scottish Government became the first government in the world to commit funding to so-called Loss and Damage. The move has been welcomed by the Least Developed Countries who have urged other rich, developed countries to follow.
Alistair Dutton, Chief Executive of SCIAF speaking on behalf of SCCS, said:
“There are just a few days left to make the Glasgow talks really count for those facing the consequences of the devastating climate crisis. So much time and energy has gone into hosting COP26, now it’s time for negotiators to deliver the robust action the world needs.
“To achieve climate justice, we must listen to the people who are affected first and worst; to hear the voices of experts from the Global South. We welcome the Scottish Government’s announcement at the start of the week that it will provide specific support for people suffering losses and damages as a result of the climate emergency. This has set an important precedent at the start of COP26 and should inspire other countries to follow.”
Fiona Buchanan, Campaigns and Advocacy Coordinator at Christian Aid Scotland, speaking on behalf of SCCS said:
“During the first week of COP26, the Seychelles described that they were ‘gasping for survival’, and Fiji warned that the world’s richest nations ‘have buckets but are wilfully ignoring the storms on the horizon and the holes in their canoe’. Globally, rich countries’ promise to provide $100 billion per year by 2020 in climate finance is being betrayed.”
While there have been a series of announcements during the first week of the talks, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland says there needs to be greater urgency in the second week to ensure the negotiations accelerate emissions reductions in line with keeping warming to 1.5 degrees, with clear commitments to increase financial support for the Global South.
Notes to Editors
[1] Upcoming activity:
Saturday 6 November: SCCS will be at the Global Day of Action in Glasgow, participating in the climate justice bloc. Photos from the event will be available here.
Monday 8 November, 18:30-19:45: Glasgow Climate Dialogues event in the COP26 Blue Zone, Derwentwater room. ‘Putting the South First: Hearing Priorities & Responding to Needs, through Cleaner Cooking and the Glasgow Climate Dialogues’. Watch the event online. Photos from the event will be available here.
Speakers include:
Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister, Scottish Government.
- Hon. Nancy Tembo, Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources, Government of Malawi.
Lucy Ssendi, Government of Tanzania.
Prof Saleem Huq, International Centre Climate Change & Development.
- Priyadarshini Karve, Cleaner Cooking Coalition.
- Chad Frischmann, Project Drawdown.
The session will be moderated by Alistair Dutton (Chief Executive of SCIAF).
Tuesday 9 November, 11:00-12:00: Climate Scotland event at The Lighthouse, Glasgow: ‘Voices from the Nations – Wales and Scotland in the Climate and Nature Conversation’. Register to watch the event online. Photos from the event will be available here.
Speakers include:
- Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Scottish Government.
Youth ambassadors from Scotland and Wales.
Fiona Buchanan, Campaigns and Advocacy Coordinator, Christian Aid Scotland.
Sam Ward, Campaign Manager, Climate Cymru.
The event will be chaired by Aedán Smith, Head of Policy and Advocacy, RSPB Scotland.
[2] The Glasgow Climate Dialogues communiqué can be found at: stopclimatechaos.scot/
A video summarising the Glasgow Climate Dialogues can be found at: https://youtu.be/yH3O584Emu8
[3] A selection of photos from a recent Glasgow Climate Dialogues event can be found here.
About Stop Climate Chaos Scotland:
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland (SCCS) is a diverse coalition of over 60 organisations campaigning together on climate change.
We believe that the Scottish Government should take bold action to tackle climate change, with Scotland delivering our fair share of action in response to the Paris Agreement and supporting climate justice around the world.
Our coalition members range from environment, faith and development organisations to trade and student unions and community groups.
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s policy paper, ‘Delivering climate justice at COP26 in Glasgow: Seizing Scotland’s unique opportunity to shape global action’, can be found at:
stopclimatechaos.scot/
Media requests and interviews: Stop Climate Chaos Scotland spokespeople will be available for comment and interview throughout the two weeks of COP26, with representatives inside the talks and outside at events and protests.
