COP26 will be a critical moment in the fight against runaway global heating. As host of the summit, the UK has not only an unrivalled opportunity to demonstrate climate leadership in the coming months, but also a solemn responsibility to do all we can to maximise global ambition and secure agreement on a road map for delivering on that ambition.

Based on current global climate pledges, the world is currently only on course for emissions reductions of 1% by the end of this critical decade, not the 45% reduction that is required to keep alive the hope of limiting heating to 1.5°C. The UK has a target of reducing emissions by at least 68% by 2030.

Very often debates about climate change and global warming can seem abstract and remote from people’s lived experiences. That is why, as part of my engagement with constituents, I am running several COP26 events with local groups and organisations focused on climate change in Edinburgh.

The first event will be on June 17th 5pm and will be themed around Green Public Transport. I will be joined by Capital Rail Action Group and we will focus on the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway and other public transport initiatives in the city.

Please click here to register for the event. 

We know that transportation is the largest contributor of the UK’s greenhouse gases, with the vast majority of these emissions coming from passenger cars. A key outcome of COP26 must be a modal shift from polluting, private modes of transportation to greener, public transport options.

In that context I want to hear what you think should be Edinburgh’s transport priorities.