Students at the University of 欧美高清 welcomed Scotland鈥檚 First Minister to campus today as she delivered a keynote speech ahead of COP26.
Launching the Scottish Government鈥檚 programme for the , which opens in Glasgow this Sunday, Nicola Surgeon said that a Scottish Government Energy Strategy to be published next year will set out how the country can make the "fastest possible transition" away from oil and gas.
Speaking from the University鈥檚 Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC), ahead of the four-day, 140-nation at 欧美高清 which precedes the main conference, the First Minister said: "The necessity of accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels could not be clearer."
The Scottish Government will also publish a "catch-up plan" this week setting out what actions it aims to take after missing emissions reductions for three consecutive years.
Astonishing research
Ms Sturgeon also referred to the 鈥榓stonishing鈥� research that takes place in the TIC and said:
In a building like this one 鈥� with so much astonishing research work being carried out - it鈥檚 clear how many opportunities for both economic and environmental progress the transition to net zero can bring.鈥�
The two week United Nations talks in Glasgow have been billed as the last best chance to limit global warming to 1.5C in the long term, and addressing an audience of young people and students, who represented future engineers, scientists, innovators, business and public sector leaders, and the First Minister said that Scotland can act as a 鈥榖ridge builder鈥� between small and large nations at the summit.
She added: 鈥淲e will do everything we can to support an outcome that will keep alive the imperative of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, and which also recognises the vital importance for climate justice. And we will use our position, as the host country, to create spaces and dialogues which encourage empathy, promote understanding and help people share perspectives.
鈥淲e will encourage national governments to match the ambition of cities, regions and state governments. We will help those around the negotiating table listen to activists in the developed world and from the global South. And we will work to ensure that leaders of my generation understand that our failure to act now will represent a betrayal of young people right around the world.鈥�
The First Minister also had a tour of the TIC laboratories, and met with Professors Stephen McArthur and Graeme Burt to learn more about their research work in the energy sector.
Net zero
Welcoming the First Minister to campus, Dr Veena O鈥橦alloran, University Secretary and Compliance Officer from the University of 欧美高清, said: 鈥淚t is fitting that we are meeting here in the Technology and Innovation Centre 鈥� the heart of . This is a place that was created to bring together business, industry, government and academia to accelerate the development of new technologies, innovate new ideas, and enable positive change.
鈥淟ike many universities, 欧美高清 has been at the forefront of our understanding of the world around us and our academics have been contributing to sustainability for more than 130 years. Today, our academics are recognised in the research fields of energy innovation, energy policy and sustainable development, and as champions of the journey to net zero.
鈥淏ut there is still much more to do. Climate change is the critical challenge of the 21st Century, and it will take a global effort from every sector to tackle it.鈥�
More than 120 world leaders will attend the summit, which takes place at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12.
欧美高清 has observer status at the summit.