Scottish Development International, supported by White Label Creative, launched a two-day virtual conference this month to reach out to investors and developers to discuss the range of opportunities across Scotland for green investment.
The Scotland is Now: Race to Zero programme, which kicked off the country’s road to hosting COP26 (UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties) later this year, was facilitated by White Label, with a new website, marketing campaign and the full conference programme designed and delivered by the team.
Almost 2,000 people registered to attend on 9 and 10 March, with a number of positive enquiries received by the Scottish Development International team following the event.
The conference was opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in her first speech in 2021 regarding the lead up to COP26.
Promoting the upcoming launch of the country’s new capital investment policy plan she said: “The scale of our net zero ambition means that we need new and additional sources of investment, which is why later this month we will launch a new global capital investment policy plan. It covers three broad areas, commercial property, infrastructure and direct investment into businesses and sets out how we will attract the investment we need to become a successful net zero economy.
“The plan is influenced by detailed analysis. For example, we have identified sectors where Scotland might be particularly attractive to investors such as renewable technology, life sciences, digital and IT. We have also assessed how these sectors match with global demand for investment and using that analysis we are now working to make links with potential partners elsewhere across the UK, Europe and around the world.
“This two-day event is part of that broader programme of relationship building. We hope that it will help to inform and inspire you by highlighting the scale of Scotland’s net zero ambition and in the longer term we hope that by cooperating more closely with the financial and business community we can create sustainable returns for investors while achieving economic, social and environmental benefits for our country.”
Her keynote was followed by a panel discussion featuring leading experts Nigel Topping, High Level Climate Action Champion for UN Climate Talks, COP26; Mariana Mazzucato, Professor in the Economics of Innovation and Public Value, University College London; Chris Stark, Chief Executive, UK Climate Committee on Climate Change; Linda Hanna, Interim Chief Executive, Scottish Enterprise; Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair, City of London Corporation and Cllr Susan Aitken, Leader, Glasgow City Council as they discussed the opportunities that COP26 presented to not only Scotland, but also the UK.
The opening debate was followed by panels focusing on investment opportunities across Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Sustainable Living and Destinations, Life Sciences, the Scottish National Investment Bank and Cities’ road to COP26.
Other high-level speakers involved included Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Ivan McKee, Minister for Trade, Innovation and Public Finance; the leaders from Aberdeen and Edinburgh; Peter Maher, Senior Vice President, Europe BP; Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester; Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Greater London Authority; Doug Smith, Head of Scotland, CBRE; Glenn Crocker, Head of Life Sciences, JLL; John Batten, Head of Global Cities, Arcadis; Peter Lacy, Chief Responsibility Officer and Global Sustainability Services Lead, Accenture and Wille Watt, Chair, Scottish National Investment Bank.
More details of the event can be found at https://scotlandracetozero.co.uk/
