First Minister to miss international climate summit

John Swinney will not attend the international climate summit, COP29, next week, the first time a first minister has not gone since 2019.

The decision was confirmed by officials on Thursday, just two days after the government scrapped its interim climate targets.

Acting net zero secretary Gillian Martin will represent the Scottish Government at the meeting in Azerbaijan instead.

Speaking ahead of the event, Martin said: “I will be travelling to COP29 to represent the Scottish Government, share that practical experience and use our leadership positions in global sub-national organisations – such as the Under 2 Coalition and Regions4 – to help drive greater action across all levels of government in tackling the devastating impact of climate change.  

“Scotland’s commitment to ending our contribution to global emissions by 2045 at the latest is ambitious, but it is achievable.

“We know that challenges lie ahead and the only way we can truly meet the need and urgency of the task that lies ahead is by working together exchange ideas and agree shared actions.” 

In recent years, first ministers have attended. Nicola Sturgeon made appearances at COP26 – which took place in Glasgow – on several occasions, and she also went to COP27 in Egypt. Humza Yousaf attended last year’s summit in Dubai.

The last time a first minister did not attend the summit was in 2019, when it was held in Madrid. Then climate secretary Roseanna Cunningham intended instead.

Asked why Swinney was not attending, the FM’s official spokesperson said: “We take a view at every COP. The FM doesn’t always go to COP. It depends on the programme, largely.”

Earlier this week, the Scottish Parliament passed the government’s Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Target) Bill, which watered down its climate ambitions.

While the 2045 target to reach net-zero remains, the major 2030 target and annual targets have been scrapped. It followed a critical report by the Climate Change Committee concluding there was no credible route to reducing emissions by 75 per cent by the end of this decade.

The Scottish Conservatives said it was “no wonder that John Swinney is too embarrassed to show his face” given the row-back.

However, the party also questioned the value of Martin going to the event. Shadow net zero secretary Douglas Lumsden said: “While it's obvious that the SNP need to up their game on tackling climate change, hard-pressed Scots will be questioning whether Gillian Martin should be jetting across the globe when they are tightening their own belts because of the nationalists’ economic incompetence.

“Rather than travelling abroad to virtue signal about their so-called green credentials, it’s just common sense that the SNP should focus on the real issues instead.”