COP26: A Catalyst for Change event, held in association with international law firm CMS will be hosted by Dr Martin Valenti, Energy Transition and Green Enterprise Director for South of Scotland Enterprise. It will begin with a keynote speech by Patrick Harvie MSP, Co-leader of The Scottish Green Party, who, in response to climate change, has campaigned extensively on improving public transport and active travel infrastructure, and has repeatedly advocated for radical measures to reduce CO2 emissions and end dependence on fossil fuels. This will be followed by a debate by our expert panel. The panel incudes Anthony Burns, Chief Operating Officer at ACS Clothing, Mikaela Loach, Climate Justice Activist, Lindsay McQuade, Chief Executive Officer of ScottishPower Renewables with more speakers to be announced shortly. The event will discuss how Scotland can seize the opportunities of COP26 as a springboard for change and ensure it has a meaningful and enduring legacy. The event will highlight some of the incredible work already happening across Scotland and address how we can continue, and build upon, this in the years to come.

Alan Nelson, Glasgow Office Managing Partner for CMS, said: “CMS Scotland is delighted to be working in partnership with The Herald to deliver COP26: A Catalyst for Change virtual event on 16 September. Sustainability is very much at the forefront of how we live, think and do business. The pandemic has accelerated the sustainability journey with a green recovery in play and opportunity for us all to hit the reset button and make changes to build back a better, more resilient world. COP26 is only a few months away. It is now a time where we all need to take action and seize the opportunity presented by this global event. All eyes are focused on the run up to the event but we need to look beyond and look at what the legacy of the event could be and see how government, policymakers, business and activists are tackling the challenges and seizing the opportunities from Scotland’s climate response.”