COP26 and maintaining Net Zero urgency

There was news this week that ten trees for every person in Glasgow City Region will be planted as part of a new urban ‘forest’.

As the city prepares to host COP26 in November, the pledge equates to approximately 18 million trees being planted over the next decade, increasing woodland cover in the region from 17 per cent to 20 per cent. The pledge is being viewed as an ideal opportunity for Glasgow City Region to demonstrate its commitment to reaching Net Zero.

It is refreshing to see that the urgency and eagerness to continue the progress made on lowering emissions and creating sustainable cities and communities has not dampened as restrictions have eased.

Recent research from Global Action Plan found that two-thirds of young people are worried about how air pollution will affect their health, while a group of metro mayors and council leaders, part of UK100, have stressed that the UK will struggle to reach its climate change targets unless more power and money is put into local hands.

It is important that this stays on the agenda, which is why the online NetZero GOVERNMENT event on 17 June will be key in highlighting the need to neutralise public sector emissions by 2030 and those of residents and businesses by 2045.

Michael Lyons, editor