The eyes of the world have been on Scotland and the UK.
The UK Government hosted COP26 conference in Glasgow that was held from 31st October to 12th November was a pivotal moment for the future of our planet.
The United Nations IPCC report published in August was dubbed a “code red for humanity”.
It was clear that COP26 had to deliver if we are to have any hope of safeguarding the Earth from the worst effects of climate change and the conference did not disappoint.
COP26 delivered the first ever international agreement that promised to phase down coal – the single biggest contributor of carbon emissions.
The conference secured a commitment from leaders of more than 100 countries that cover over 85 percent of the world’s forests to stop and reverse deforestation and land degradation by the year 2030 – a massively important step given that trees absorb huge amounts of CO2.
It resulted in a pledge from the businesses that build a quarter of the world’s total automobiles to end the production of carbon emission vehicles by 2035.
Whilst much remains to be done, it is clear that the conference produced some landmark commitments and managed to keep the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees alive and achievable.
I was delighted to be present at COP26 to attend the Taiwan Day Event and to hear about the country’s efforts to combat climate change.
Taiwan is taking some very important steps to achieve net zero by 2050 with the country investing heavily in solar capacity and offshore wind energy.
It was a pleasure to meet Taiwan’s Representative to the UK, Kelly Wu-Chiao Hsieh at the conference and to also welcome, Jason C.C Lien and Mindy Chia-Min Chang from the Taipei Representative Office to the Scottish Parliament in subsequent weeks.
Following COP26, the UK Government announced that almost £10 million would be invested in a ground-breaking hydrogen storage project, here in Eastwood.
This new initiative at the Whitelee Windfarm in Eaglesham is the first-of-a-kind endeavour and it’s aim will be to produce hydrogen to store energy and provide zero-carbon fuel as the United Kingdom moves towards a future of clean energy use.
This astonishing investment places Eastwood and Scotland right at the very forefront of the UK’s transition to clean energy.
The near £10 million of funding will result in Whitelee’s green hydrogen initiative developing the country’s largest electrolyser - a system that transforms water into hydrogen gas as a means of storing energy.
The project will also assist in the creation of high-skilled jobs and lead progress towards decarbonising the UK transport sector.
I was delighted to meet with the Energy and Climate Change Minister, Greg Hands MP who was at Whitelee to announce the investment and to discuss the vital importance of this pioneering UK hydrogen storge initiative in Eastwood.
When it was first constructed, Whitelee was the largest onshore windfarm in Europe and it’s fantastic news to see the site leading the way again and this time on hydrogen.