Firstminister.gov.scot
facebook
instagram
flickr
YouTube
twitter
  • Home
  • News
  • Join In
  • People
  • About

Home » News » First Minister attends UN climate change conference

First Minister attends UN climate change conference

7 December 2015

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon travelled to Paris to attend the UN global climate change summit and discuss Scotland’s world-leading efforts in tackling climate change.

Ahead of the summit, the First Minister announced that an extra £12 million will be invested over the next four years to help reduce the impact of climate change on the world’s poorest communities.

The money – from the Scottish Government’s Climate Justice Fund – will support projects in countries such as Malawi and Zambia.

The First Minister said:

The people who have done least to cause climate change are the people who are being hit hardest. The scale of the injustice is massive.

“In 2012 we became the first national government in the world to establish a climate justice fund and we have had some fantastic results. That’s why I can announce today that we are doubling our funding for the Climate Justice Fund to £12 million over the next four years.”

Also on the agenda in Paris was a meeting with former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson (below, with the First Minister) who officially launched Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund in 2012. The Fund has also received backing from Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

 

First Minister meets Mary Robinson

The First Minister also joined Governor of California Jerry Brown to confirm the progress of 44 states and regions on cutting greenhouse gases.

.@NicolaSturgeon We are at a precious moment of opportunity & I hope the world in Paris this week takes it #SIF15 pic.twitter.com/rYiJySBIea

— UN Environment (@UNEP) December 7, 2015

FM @NicolaSturgeon meetings at #COP21 @MRFCJ @rischwasu @whitehouseostp pic.twitter.com/YomOwkZu1A

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) December 7, 2015

The First Minister’s announcement was warmly welcomed by a range of stakeholders.

SCIAF’s Director Alistair Dutton said:

We welcome the increase to the Scottish Government’s Climate Justice Fund. It’s a clear recognition that wealthy industrialised countries like Scotland have a clear responsibility to help poor countries cope with the huge climate challenges they face. It sets a positive example to other wealthy nations meeting in Paris.”

Head of Oxfam Scotland, Jamie Livingstone, said:

Globally, and here in Scotland, we must limit the damage by reducing emissions, but we must also ramp up our support to help those already affected adapt their lives to unavoidable climate impacts.

“In this context, the Scottish Government’s enhanced commitment to climate justice is very welcome – it increases the funding promised and creates much needed predictability.

Prof Alan Miller, Chair of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, said:

The Scottish Government has already committed to promote the concept of climate justice in its work. This helps to ensure that the developed countries – like Scotland and the UK – understand their responsibility to mitigate their own carbon emissions, recognise the right to development, and support a low carbon path of development for developing countries.”

The Rev Sally Foster-Fulton, convener of the Church of Scotland’s Church & Society Council, attended the Paris summit last weekend as part of a delegation from the Church of Scotland and Eco-Congregation Scotland. She said:

We welcome both the call of the Scottish Government for an ambitious agreement to be reached at the Paris summit – one which will make life on our planet sustainable in the long term – and also its commitment to double investment in its Climate Justice Fund.”

Delighted that @ScotGovFM @NicolaSturgeon proud to #ShowTheLove for action on climate & climate justice #COP21 💚👍 pic.twitter.com/PsKiz9GuiI

— Lang Banks, WWF (@LangBanks) December 7, 2015

Following the meeting the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the discussions she has had at the climate change summit today make her “cautiously optimistic” that a bold and ambitious deal will be agreed in Paris.

Rotating Tweets Shortcode

Twitter

The Scottish Government has lodged a Legislative Consent Memorandum (LCM) with the Scottish Parliament, recommending that consent cannot be given to the UK Government’s “inadequate and damaging” Brexit deal with the EU. More information: gov.scot/news/brexit-de… pic.twitter.com/aF6hfFmDqX

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon has addressed the Zero Carbon Forum and committed to working with our European partners to fight climate change. We are delighted that Mayor @AnneHidalgo signed the Edinburgh Declaration on biodiversity this week, on behalf of the city of Paris. pic.twitter.com/V87NNkLQ2V

We have a winner! Sophie Blackett, Age 10 from Calderwood, East Kilbride has designed the First Minister's 2020 Christmas card.🎄📨 Well done Sophie and thank you to everyone who took part, we had almost 700 fantastic entries.🌟 Sophie's design along with the message inside⬇️ twitter.com/ScotGovFM/stat… pic.twitter.com/EjBNmEaPk4

“We want Scotland to be regarded internationally as a leader on human rights issues.” – First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a message to mark #HumanRightsDay Watch the full message⬇️ pic.twitter.com/6NXzsQISfR

First Minister @NicolaSturgeon has met staff co-ordinating the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. The hospital is one of 23 centres where priority groups will be vaccinated against coronavirus. Read more ➡️ bit.ly/36OawE6 pic.twitter.com/pH0jRSvGgD

The First Minister @NicolaSturgeon delivered a speech at the @USChamber Space Summit, and underlined that Scotland is keen to work with partners around the world on a what is a priority area for inward investment. twitter.com/USChamber/stat…

Entries can be scanned and emailed to firstminister@gov.scot with the subject heading 'Christmas Card Competition' 🖥️ Or posted to St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG marked 'Christmas Card Competition' ✉️ Good luck! 🤞

Then make sure they enter before midnight on Monday November 30. ⏰ Pictures should be no larger than A3 and drawn in pen/pencil/crayon/paint only. No stickers or glued on pieces please. ✏️🖍️🖌️🎨

The First Minister is looking for a picture that represents kindness to use for her Christmas card this year.🎄📨 Do you know a young person under the age of 16 who can present the perfect festive picture to wrap up 2020? 🎁🎀

The original artwork for the First Minister's 2019 Christmas card will go to auction on Friday 27 November, Lot 870: bit.ly/361HnoO twitter.com/ScotGovFM/stat…

Follow @ScotGovFM

JOIN IN

First Minister’s Postbag

Share your thoughts with the First Minister.

GET IN TOUCH

JOIN IN

Follow us online

For wider Scottish Government News please go to www.gov.scot

twitter
YouTube
flickr
instagram
facebook

Copyright Scottish Government 2021

  • About the site
  • Privacy Policy and Content Disclaimer
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility
  • Rules of engagement
The Scottish Government

Change Cookie Settings

twitterYouTubeflickrinstagramfacebook
  • Home
  • News
  • Join In
  • People
  • About