A new initiative has been launched to bring together Scottish universities to address the climate emergency.
Scotland Beyond Net Zero (SBNZ), founded jointly by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, aims to help the country meet – and go beyond – its ambition of achieving net zero by 2045.
The universities said the collaboration will spark action and empower government, policymakers, organisations, and industry to make informed change to aid Scotland in reaching its climate targets.
The new venture will combine ‘world-changing’ research, innovation, and expertise in climate science and sustainability with an aim of addressing key challenges linked with the climate emergency – including clean energy, storage, decarbonisation, green transport, community empowerment, and climate justice.
Whilst initially launched by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, both said that the initiative will bring together ‘world class’ expertise from institutions across the country.
The initiative will be officially launched at an event hosted by Màiri McAllan, the Scottish Government’s secretary for net zero and just transition, with guests from academia, business, government, and public life in Scotland joining the universities in celebrating the launch at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh.
Various projects will be showcased at the event, including the Energy at Edinburgh initiative – which is working with partners to deliver affordable, secure, and sustainable energy for all – and GALLANT, which is using Glasgow as a living lab to trial new sustainable solutions throughout the city.
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, said, “Climate change is arguably the greatest global challenge of our time. We need coordinated action to harness our combined strengths. To support Scotland’s transition to net zero, it is vital that we go further and faster together. That’s what SBNZ aims to do.”
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Glasgow, added, “The climate emergency demands that all of us – academia, business, government and third sector organisations – step up our efforts to work more closely together. Scotland has immense potential to innovate to solve the stubborn challenges associated with achieving a fair and just transition to net zero, and in launching this coalition today we hope to encourage partners across the nation to join us and get involved with SBNZ.”
Scotland’s first minister Humza Yousaf commented, “Scotland’s universities have a vital role to play in our transition to net zero, not only through their world-class research, but in providing the education and evidence we need to make informed decisions about our future. We have a clear pathway to deliver on global climate change commitments for Scotland and there are enormous opportunities to innovate and bring together expertise across academia, industry and the third sector.
“I commend the leadership shown by the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow in launching this initiative and I welcome the collaborative approach taken by the universities and partners across the country who will shape the development of Scotland beyond net zero in the months ahead.”
