Stage 1: On our way to COP26!
Our committed team of cyclists is already pedalling to Glasgow to deliver its message on the urgency and opportunities of moving towards a carbon-neutral economy. And neither the rain nor the cold will get on our way!
South Queensferry next to Edinburgh, on the banks of the river Forth, has been our point of departure. After crossing the beautiful estuary of the river where it flows into the North Sea, we have cycled peacefully along the northern slopes beside the river until we have reached one of the key milestones of our journey, the demolition works of the Longannet coal-fired power station. Located in Fife, Longannet was the last of its kind in Scotland, and an example of the energy transition that needs to take place to reach our climate objectives.
The route has ended in one of the most beautiful cities of Scotland, New Lanark. This 18th century mill village has become a model for the transition from an industrial town to a modern and touristic site, recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Site. This transformation was possible thanks to effective policies, which is exactly what is needed in the climate fight and what has marked the theme of today´s march.
As we start our journey, we stress the need of medium and long-term pathways aligned with reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 that are based on a comprehensive and consistent policy mix (regulations, economic and fiscal instruments, R&D, etc.) that enable an inclusive, resilient, and deep decarbonisation.
We invite you to know the contributions to this one, and other topics of debate, in the section of our web “Our climate action messages”.
Ready for the next stage!
The new IPCC report reinforces that global economies must take bold measures to rapidly reduce emissions in line with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C. We urge the world’s governments to go all in by incentivizing the global economy to shift away rapidly from polluting activities, and to scale up climate solutions. This is essential for getting all actors across the value chain on board, and for helping avoid every fraction of a degree of temperature rise that will define whether or not we can look forward to a thriving, secure and resilient future.Gonzalo Sáenz de Miera – Director of Climate Change and Alliances, Iberdrola
Climate change is a systemic challenge; we must work together to break down barriers and release our shared potential; Moving for Climate NOW does just that.Sam Gardner - Head of Climate Change & Sustainability, ScottishPower
Many countries have put forward new commitments for COP26. While climate ambition has never been higher, energy transitions have a long way to go. Governments must give the signal to drive investment in a net-zero future.Tom Howes - Head of the Energy and Environment Division, International Energy Agency (IEA)
For me, the greatest achievement of COP 26 would be to move from ambition to implementation on the part of all concerned parties – above all, central governments and major corporations.Paul Simons - Senior Fellow, Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University