SNP members have overwhelmingly voted in favour of building a COP26 legacy for future generations.
The resolution titled "Securing a COP26 legacy" was passed by 480 votes to just five.
It was the first resolution on Saturday morning that members had the chance to vote on, and was put forward by SNP Glasgow council leader Susan Aitken.
Glasgow City councillor Angus Millar, Edinburgh Council leader Adam McVey and Glasgow Kelvin SNP Kaukab Stewart backed the motion. There were no cards lodged arguing against.
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Delegates at the conferences voted in favour of acknowledging that COP26 was attracted to Glasgow due to the SNP administration’s ambitious climate targets.
The motion also recognised that delivering climate justice to those most affected by climate change is vital to a just transition.
The motion stated that COP26, to be held in six weeks time, was “probably the most important international event in a generation”.
Moving the motion in her name, Councillor Aitken told the conference: “It’s no exaggeration to say that at the UN climate conference COP 26, the future of the planet is at stake.
“The negotiations and the Glasgow agreement that we hope emerges from them, are the opportunity to steer us away from catastrophic global warming towards the adoption of new economies and new ways of living, working and trading to reverse the worldwide loss and damage that climate change is causing right now and to put the wellbeing of people and planet ahead of profit.”
Aitken added that she believed UK minister Alok Sharma was being hindered by Boris Johnson.
Aitken said Sharma was being 'undermined' by Boris Johnson ahead of COP26
She said: “Cop26 President Alok Sharma is, I believe, doing his level best to secure a Glasgow agreement worthy of the name, but he’s undermined at every turn by his party leader who’s only really interested in green infrastructure as something to stick a union flag on and pose beside for a wacky photo op.
“But Glasgow, Scotland and the SNP can lead the way, and Cop26 can give us a pivotal moment to do so.
“We know what the prize is: clean air, local food security, an end to fuel poverty, better, cheaper public transport, green spaces for all and sustainable high-value skills and jobs in a resilient modern economy.”
Atiken added that it was a matter of “considerable frustration” for SNP members that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wouldn’t be leading negotiations at the summit, which will instead be led by Sharma.
🌍 Now is the time to think big and be bold.
— The SNP (@theSNP) September 11, 2021
🏴 Scotland already has world-leading climate targets, backed up by world-leading action.
🌳 As we build back from Covid and approach COP26, we're ramping up our ambition higher still - the climate crisis won't wait. #SNP21 pic.twitter.com/88jqnimwsy
Aitken added: “We still have an incredible opportunity to put Glasgow and Scotland in the global front window for sustainability.
“To showcase not only our climate ambition but also our practical plans to lead the world in delivering a just transition to a zero carbon economy and society.
“Scotland’s climate action ambitions and policy agenda are a growing international reputation for business and technological innovation, the challenges from our past that we’re overcoming, and our incredible wealth of natural assets.
“I don’t think any other nation on earth has such a platform to showcase ourselves and our ambitions this year as Scotland does.”
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Aitken also said that local and national governments need to work together to achieve the targets, adding that “it’s local governments who know their own places and people best and who will often be able to deliver change on the ground at the pace and urgency we need”.
She added: “Our early estimate is that the cost of decarbonising Glasgow alone in the next decade will be £30 billion, just thinking about that would put a curl in your hair as my granny used to say.
“People in communities across Scotland need to be reassured that the price of this won’t be their local services and amenities.
“We in the SNP also need to be clear that this is not only necessary, it's worth it, not only because if we don’t respond to the climate emergency now, the cost and not just the financial cost will be so much higher.”
More to follow ...
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