COP26: Briefing – 2 September

03.09.21

COP26

Work starts on site for COP26

Construction has started on-site at the SEC signalling the intention to hold an in-person summit and, with two months to go until event time, the scale of the work for this major international event can already be seen.

Transport Scotland and Get Ready Glasgow COP26 webinar

Following the success of Get Ready Glasgow’s digital webinar in June of this year, a further online event has been organised in partnership with Transport Scotland to help businesses prepare for COP26.

The ‘What does COP26 mean for me?’ webinar will take place from 12pm on Friday, 10 September.

It will feature speakers from Transport Scotland, Police Scotland, the Cabinet Office, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Details of the transport plan and city operations will be shared, with organisers discussing updates and how best to get ready for the arrival of COP26.

For more information and to register for this event please visit the event page.

Future Get Ready Glasgow engagement

September will see an increase in the communications and engagement around COP26. Further to the webinar, mentioned above community drop in sessions are planned for the end of September along with direct communications in the form of a letter to businesses and residents directly impacted by some of the road closures. This is in addition to the regular community council and community group meetings that the engagement team attends to update on plans.

There will also be direct engagement with the business community, business intermediaries from GRG and Transport Scotland teams in the form of webinars and bespoke meetings key individual businesses to inform and influence movement on the transport network and maintain efficient operations.

All drop-in sessions and webinars will be advertised, in advance, on getreadyglasgow.com and on twitter @GetReadyGlasgow

Creating a Covid Safe COP26

In common with many international events, the way COP operates must adapt to the COVID context. As we plan for the conference, ensuring the health of participants and local communities is of utmost importance.

Delivery partners are working towards how we host an in-person event, enabling all those who need to, to participate on an equal footing, while also using technology to make the summit as inclusive as possible.

Health protection measures include strict COVID testing protocols in place, including regular testing to ensure the health and wellbeing of all staff, attendees, and the public. COP26 delegates will be provided with the necessary testing facilities.

Full vaccination is strongly encouraged for all those attending COP26. The UK government offered vaccines to all registered COP26 delegates who were unable to access them through other means.
The council and partners will continue to work to make sure that we are able to provide attendees with locations outside of the main COP26 venue that can provide COVID-secure events and hospitality.

These will have strong COVID mitigations in place, and the measures will sit alongside any local regulations in place at the time of COP26.

There will be further public health measures in place at COP26 including social distancing, face-coverings when delegates are not seated and a comprehensive set of hygiene/ventilation measures. 

Core Path Consultation

Delivering such a complex and sizeable event such as COP26, means that, inevitably, some security road closures and other measures will be needed to facilitate not only the safe delivery of the event, but maintain the safety and security of participants, residents, businesses and visitors. 

The Council is currently consulting on the temporary suspension of public access rights in the area around and including the SEC venue to reflect security requirements associated with the COP26.

Cycle paths and footways will also be affected and could be closed to the public at certain times.  If this is the case, alternative routes will be available and signed appropriately for all modes of travel. As operational plans develop, this information will be communicated through the usual channels in good time before the arrival of COP26.

Under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, the Council is required to provide the opportunity for the public to submit representations or objections to a proposed ‘Section 11 Order’, the purpose of which is to manage public access during the event. To find out more or make a representation please visit Glasgow Consult.

Objections and representations to any of the proposed orders can be submitted by email to [email protected], for the consideration of the Council, on or before Friday 3^rd September 2021.


Event space registration system now open

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is developing a network of local community and faith-run venues to help civil society have the facilities they need in Glasgow.

For those interested in providing or taking up these opportunities, find out more information on The Climate Fringe website.

There is a registration process to access the booking system and initial priority booking runs for two weeks from 1 September for groups including less resourced and marginalised groups, organisations that are connected to an international community and groups with a climate justice focus.

Organisations can also upload themselves or email the details to Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.

More information on The Climate Fringe can be found by signing up to their newsletter.

Could you become a Climate Hero?

Businesses across Glasgow City Region are being asked to become Climate Heroes. As part of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce’s wider COP26 educational legacy project, the Climate Heroes will help young people develop the skills needed for future sustainable roles which will help tackle the climate crisis.

Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Glasgow, West and Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire are looking for at least 100 industry partners who have experience working in roles supporting the new circular and green economy. These passionate individuals can showcase the skills required for young people to enter the jobs of the future through real-life examples.

Climate Heroes do not need to come from a traditionally ‘green’ or ‘circular’ business. Individuals from all sectors of the economy are encouraged to come together and shape the curriculum, demonstrating that every industry has a role to play in realising Scotland’s climate and net zero targets.

Find out how you can become a Climate Hero by visiting the My Climate Path website or get in touch with My Climate Path by email.

Accelerating Your Business Journey to Green with Scottish Power – Thursday, 16 September

Could going greener save your business money and attract new customers?

Glasgow’s business community has a major role to play in helping the city become carbon neutral by 2030. Energy experts say small businesses going greener will have a huge, combined impact for Glasgow and help Scotland and the UK achieve net zero emissions targets.

In the lead up to COP26, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is hosting an exclusive panel event with Scottish Power, one of the principal partners of the conference, to discuss how your business can be part of this important movement.

Hosted by Sally Magnusson, businesses will hear from Glasgow Chamber’s Chief Executive, Catherine Westoby, Senior Policy Adviser at UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as well as experts from Scottish Power and Glasgow small business owners that have made sustainable changes to attract new customers and cut costs.

Find out more and book here

Climate Chamber Mission

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Climate Chamber Mission, a hybrid two-day international trade and knowledge exchange mission which will be held during COP26 on the 1 – 2 November.

The largest ever international trade mission hosted by a British Chambers of Commerce, the programme is designed to support business in the delivery of circular economy solutions, sustainability and ambition climate targets.

Participants will have the opportunity to identify new revenues, whilst collaborating on new markets, product ideas, cost-savings and prepare for likely changes in governmental regulations.

All delegates will receive business to business meetings with fellow attendees and will be invited to join prominent keynote speakers, bespoke expert forums, networking with peers and, for those in Glasgow, site visits and an evening reception on the 2 November.

For more information about how to get involved, click here or get in touch with [email protected].

Plate up for Glasgow

Local restaurants, cafes, bars and takeaways are being encouraged to join the likes of Eusebi, Ka Pao, SWG3 and Drygate in a mission to embed sustainable and circular practices to reduce waste in Glasgow’s food and drink sector. 

Plate up for Glasgow is a hospitality industry led campaign scheduled to coincide with COP26, in November. Piloted by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce through its Circular Glasgow initiative and funded by Experience Glasgow Food and Drink Regional Group, the campaign aims to highlight and encourage hospitality businesses to act upon the global issue of food waste and its impact on climate change. 

The campaign’s ambition is to challenge traditional and wasteful dining and takeaway business models with the goal of sending as little organic waste as possible to landfill. It is hoped that businesses can rebuild the local economy, while collaborating on how to become more sustainable and profitable. Some of the city’s best chefs will also share tips and offer advice on how to reduce food waste and highlight the many benefits of buying locally and seasonally. 

Find out how your business can be involved here.