Month: December 2023

COP28 – Let’s talk about a just transition

Delivering on the Promise of Climate Finance at Last: Edinburgh Science presents the latest in their Climate Co-Lab series at COP28 in Dubai in partnership with Wood Mackenzie

Edinburgh Science, a charity known for its annual Science Festival and education programmes, teamed up with Wood Mackenzie to deliver next in its series of Climate Co-Labs to take place in Dubai during COP28: Delivering on the Promise of Climate Finance at Last on Monday, 4 December.

Edinburgh Science’s Climate Co-Lab series is an established programme of round table meetings that bring senior leaders and decision makers together to share inspiration and come up with solutions to our climate emergency with cross-sectoral approach. 

The focus for this event is on the 2009 pledge that developed nations made to deliver $100bn annually for climate action in developing nations. This pledge has never been met.

Accordingto the net zero 2050 scenario* within Wood Mackenzie’s Energy Transition Outlook, we need to spend approximately $75tn between now and 2050 if we are to achieve the net zero by 2050.That equates to around $2.7tn per year, around 35% higher in real terms than the industry’s average annual spend for the past 12 years.

The $100bn pledge’s replacement, the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) is set to take centre stage at COP28 and its success is vital as a means of tackling the climate crisis. 

The Co-Lab will be chaired by Ed Crooks, Vice-Chair Americas at Wood Mackenzie and a host of a popular WoodMac podcast The Energy Gang, with provocations from:

  • Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Former UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Ambassador Emeritus of Mexico, CEO and Founding partner of onepoint5;
  • Nigel Topping, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at COP26 where he launched global initiatives like Race To Zero and Race To Resilience, Member UK CCC;
  • Mohamed Sultan, Africa Lead at the Global Methane Hub, he coordinates the strategic development of the organization’s Africa portfolio, overseeing impactful projects at the intersection of development and mitigation efforts within the energy, waste, and agricultural sectors.

Hannah Schlesinger, Director of Development and Marketing at Edinburgh Science said: “Climate Action is not a spectator sport; everyone has a role to play in solving the climate emergency.

“Since our beginning in 1989, Edinburgh Science has been dedicated to programming for the planet, we do this through educating, collaborating and, in this case, convening those who can take rapid and effective action.

“We are going to COP28 because we know we can help engage those with power and resource to engage with difficult questions, in this case how exactly it is we unlock the finance needed to catalyse a global just transition.

“We believe we have the technology and understanding to beat climate change, what we need now is the rapid and determined investment and action to move the dial. We hope this gathering will contribute positively to this.”

Ed Crooks, Vice-Chair, Americas at Wood Mackenzie said: “Meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement requires a colossal global programme of investment in low-carbon energy and natural resources. 

“On our calculations, it means spending about $75 trillion between now and 2050, or about $2.7 trillion a year. That is about 35% higher in real terms than the industry’s average annual spending in the past 12 years.

“The scale of the challenge raises some important questions. Where will the capital to finance this level of investment come from? What new financial frameworks do we need to help money flow to where it can have the most impact? How can private and public sectors work together to accelerate this urgently needed investment?

“Wood Mackenzie is very pleased to be teaming up with Edinburgh Science for its Climate Co-Lab to tackle these crucial questions.

“We will explore the lessons of past attempts to direct capital flows, and look for new thinking on financing a just transition. We are bringing together a group of climate leaders with a remarkable breadth of experience and expertise, and we expect to make a real contribution to the debate around COP28.”

During the Co-Lab, participants will be asked:

  • What lessons from past negotiations can ensure the success of the NCQG?
  • What systemic change to global financial architecture are needed to scale and deliver on climate finance?
  • How can we design affordable and attractive financial packages?
  • What instruments are required for a just transition to the net-zero target of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement?
  • How can policy, public finance, private finance, and regulation collaborate to seize climate-positive opportunities?
  • Whilst communities lack a seat at the negotiating table, their role is pivotal in adopting climate-positive solutions. How do we include and mobilise this powerful collective?

Barratt Developments teams up with Dobbies Garden Centres to create sustainable festive front door display 

Stylist shares top tips on how to dress your door on a budget this Christmas

Barratt Developments Scotland has joined forces with Dobbies Garden Centres to share top tips and insights on how to dress your front door this Christmas – sustainably and on a budget.

Together with Dobbies’ top stylist, the housebuilder, which includes Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, has created a handy guide with festive ideas on how to add a wow to your front door décor this December.

Front door transformations were named as one of Pinterest Predicts’ leading trends for 2023, with the holiday season marking the perfect time to embrace the trend and add a touch of festive sparkle to the exterior of the home. 

While the makeovers online are impressive, they can also be costly. Barratt and Dobbies’ handy and sustainable suggestions are designed to achieve the trend without breaking the bank.

To achieve the look in a sustainable way, foliage can be foraged from your garden, local woods or outside spaces. You can use plants from your garden such as Conifer, Skimmia ‘rubella’ or eucalyptus, enabling you to get creative depending on what’s available and your personal style. Foraging the items is a great way for families, friends and couples to come together and take part in a festive activity.

If you would like to add some seasonal sparkle to your sustainable decorations, Dobbies has a dedicated section in-store and online where customers can pick faux décor ideal for wreaths and garlands, as well as Christmas baubles, lights and decorations for different styles and looks.

Estelle Sykes, Sales Director at Barratt Developments West Scotland, said: “We’ve loved collaborating with Dobbies to create this festive front door display.

“As the entrance to the home, it’s important that the front door makes a good first impression, which is why statement décor and wreaths are becoming increasingly popular at Christmas and all year round.

“Dobbies has done an excellent job and has provided some great tips on how to recreate this at home, both sustainably and at relatively low cost. We hope to see more and more people tap into the front door trend this winter using our top tips.”

Barratt Developments & Dobbies’ handy step-by-step guide on how to recreate at home:

  • Lay out thick rope (about two metres long) on the ground. Attach chosen foliage in bundles along the rope with garden twine. You can make this as full as you like for your chosen look
  • Attach the rope, with all foliage, to the drainpipe or porch. We started at the top of the drainpipe and attached downwards
  • Using garden twine, tie various sizes of baubles together for impact and attach (with other décor of your choice) to the foliage. Baubles are available to buy in multipacks from Dobbies. We also added oversized baubles for extra impact and LED lights which don’t emit heat
  • Use the same approach for the wreath, creating little bundles of foliage, attaching them using garden twine. We added heather for an additional pop of colour. Create your wreath shape from twigs or buy a wreath base
  • Add baubles, décor and wire battery lights before hanging on your door
  • Decorate the area with reindeers, potted trees and other festive ornaments of your choice. We selected a Nordmann fir potted tree and a Blue spruce which can be taken indoors and decorated for Christmas, and you can plant in your garden after the festive season. You could also opt to keep them in their pots to maintain their size for next year, giving them longevity

Rebecca Stanton, Stylist at Dobbies Garden Centres, said: “Dressing your front door is huge at the moment and we’re thrilled to partner with Barratt to bring this trend to life. Christmas is a great time of year to experiment with decorations and what better way to do this than to get creative with your own front door.

“We have selected low-cost items, most of which can be foraged from outside, and everything else can be chosen to suit your preferred colour scheme and taste. We used items from our Classic Luxe theme, which suited the style and colouring of the house. Our step-by-step guide should be straightforward enough so people can get creative and try at home, with family and friends.”

All items used in the display are available from Dobbies Garden Centre. Costs are scalable depending on budget.

You can visit Dobbies Garden Centres in the following locations:

Aberdeen
Ayr
Braehead
Dundee
Dunfermline
Edinburgh and little dobbies Stockbridge
Inverness
Livingston
Milngavie
Perth
Sandyholm
Stirling

Record National Insurance cut arrives in less than six weeks

  • 27 million employees to receive largest ever cut to National Insurance on 6 January 2024
  • On Thursday, the House of Commons debated the National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Bill, with the average employee and self-employed set to get an extra £450 a year and £350 a year
  • £9 billion a year tax cut means that personal taxes on the average salary are set to be lower in the UK than every other major economy.

The National Insurance Contributions (Reduction in Rates) Bill will be debated in the Commons today to implement the largest ever cut to National Insurance from 6 January 2024 – less than six weeks’ time.

The Bill will be debated throughout the day with Members voting on the Bill this evening. It will then go to the Lords in the middle of December before receiving Royal Assent thereafter.

Reducing Class 1 National Insurance from 12 per cent to 10 per cent will reward work, meaning 27 million employees will effectively pay over 15 per cent less on National Insurance.

To the average employee on a salary of £35,400 this will be worth £450 a year, improving living standards and reducing the current combined tax rate of 32% for employees paying the basic rate of tax to 30% – the lowest since the 1980s.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, said: “I’ve been clear from the start that I want to cut taxes. Now, having met our pledge to halve inflation, taxes can be cut in a responsible way that rewards work and helps grow our economy.”

These changes will mean that, for those on average salaries, personal taxes would be lower in the UK than every other G7 country, based on the most recent OECD data.

Taxes for the self-employed will also be cut and reformed. From 6 April 2024, Class 4 NICs for the self-employed will be reduced from 9% to 8% and no self-employed person will have to pay Class 2 NICs, simplifying the tax system and saving the average self-employed person on £28,200 a year £350 in 2024/25.

The changes will see an average full-time nurse on £38,900 receive an annual gain of over £520; an average teacher on £44,300 would receive an additional £630 a year; and a typical self-employed plumber on £34,400 would be £410 better off as a result of these cuts.

Diageo partners with THINK! and Greene King this Christmas to tackle drink driving

FREE PINTS OF GUINNESS 0.0 OFFER

Diageo, maker of Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff, has partnered with THINK!, the Government’s official road safety campaign, and Greene King on a new initiative encouraging people to drink responsibly over the festive period.

The partnership will allow designated drivers to claim a free pint of Guinness 0.0 at participating Greene King pubs across the UK throughout December.

The latest data shows that 79% of drink-drive collisions involve male drivers or riders over the legal alcohol limit1, and younger male drivers are historically over-represented in drink drive related road casualties2. Therefore, the campaign aims to remind people looking to celebrate during the next month to not drink and drive. The initiative also marks the third consecutive year Diageo is partnering with THINK! this Christmas.

From 1st December 2023 – 1st January 2024, designated drivers wishing to take part will need to visit the Guinness website and use the pub finder search tool to locate one of the 472 Greene King pubs participating in the offer.

They will then be able to download a voucher code and present this, along with their car keys, at the bar to prove their designated driver status and claim their free Guinness 0.0.

Nuno Teles, Managing Director at Diageo GB said: “Drink driving is never acceptable. Which is why we’re building on our previous campaigns with THINK! to help encourage responsible drinking this Christmas.

“By giving designated drivers a free pint of alcohol-free Guinness 0.0, our partnership with THINK! and Greene King will allow designated drivers across the UK to still be part of the festive fun and drive everyone home safely.”

Guy Opperman, Roads Minister at Department for Transport said: “Our highly regarded THINK! campaign will be aiming to save more lives again this Christmas season and will help continue to raise awareness of the dangers of drink-driving.

“This is a great initiative which encourages people to act responsibly while still enjoying the festive season.”

Diageo has a long-standing commitment to promoting positive drinking through moderation and tackling the harmful use of alcohol.

This initiative is part of Diageo’s latest pledge to change the attitudes towards drink driving of five million drivers by 2030 as part of its ten-year sustainability action plan Society 2030: Spirit of Progress.

The partnership also builds on Diageo’s other existing initiatives such as its ‘Wrong Side of the Road’ virtual learning experience, a hard-hitting programme which allows individuals to have a conversation with a real drink driver to help understand the consequences of drink driving.

To find out more, please visit: guinness.com/en-gb/greene-king-00

Health and Social Care Secretary sets out priorities for system in England

Victoria Atkins aims to make health and social care system faster, simpler and fairer for patients

  • Health and Social Care Secretary sets out intention to make the system faster, simpler and fairer for patients
  • Victoria Atkins thanks staff for a week of delivery, in which two manifesto commitments were met

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins has thanked health, social care and research staff for delivering on patients’ priorities, as she set out her commitment to make the health and social care system faster, simpler and fairer for patients.

The Secretary of State has paid tribute to NHS, social care and research staff for their hard work in a week the government delivered 50,000 additional nurses, delivered 50 million more GP appointments – both manifesto commitments – and rolled out lifesaving HIV opt-out testing to 46 areas across England.

Her words came days after pharmacies across the country began offering new contraceptive services and additional blood pressure checks, and after a breakthrough in talks to end consultant strikes, which saw the British Medical Association Consultants committee agree to put an offer on contract reform to its members.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Victoria Atkins, said: “Since joining the department, I have been bowled over by the way health and social care staff just keep on delivering for patients. The important milestones we’ve reached this week – reaching 50,000 additional nurses and 50 million more GP appointments – demonstrate real progress. 

“I have spent the past few weeks meeting doctors, nurses, GPs, pharmacists and other health workers and heard wonderful stories about how they have gone above and beyond to deliver outstanding care for patients and cut waiting lists.

“But I have also heard about their frustrations and where they feel they are not able to deliver the best possible care or where prevention or early intervention could have made a real difference. That is why I am committed to making health and social care services faster, simpler and fairer.

“We face a difficult winter ahead. And though our early winter planning is seeing some results we know there is much more to do. But having seen what our excellent staff can do I am confident that with the government’s support we can continue to deliver for patients over the coming months.”

The Health and Social Care Secretary has committed to making health and social care services:

  • Faster for patients, by making it easier to get treatment locally, improving A&E performance and cutting waiting lists
  • Simpler for patients, with joined up, integrated care, and simpler for staff, by reducing bureaucracy and giving them the latest technology to free up their time to care for patients
  • Fairer, ensuring children are protected from health harms, that health outcomes are not determined by where you live, that government supports older people to maintain their independence for longer, and that government delivers a more productive NHS that is fairer for taxpayers.

She added that she would continue to work with the NHS to manage the ongoing winter pressures. The government prepared for winter earlier than ever before and data released by the NHS on Thursday shows the government is making good progress.

Compared to the same time last year, ambulance handover delays have fallen by 28%, thousands more 111 calls are being answered within 60 seconds, and there were nearly 1,500 more hospital beds available.

The Secretary of State said: “We face a difficult winter ahead. And though our early winter planning is seeing some results we know there is much more to do.

“But having seen what our excellent staff can do I am confident that with the government’s support we can continue to deliver for patients over the coming months.”

The Health and Social Care Secretary was appointed on 13 November. She has now set out her priorities in a week in which the government and NHS hit a number of major delivery milestones:

  • NHS England data published on Thursday showed there were 51,245 additional nurses in September 2023 compared to 2019 – hitting the government’s manifesto commitment to recruit an additional 50,000 nurses six months early.
  • NHS England data also showed that for the year to October 2023, there were 51 million additional general practice appointments delivered when compared to October 2019, meeting another manifesto commitment.
  • On Monday the government announced that it had put forward an offer that will modernise the consultant contract and reform consultants’ pay structure, paving the way to end consultant strikes. The British Medical Association and Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association will put the deal to their memberships in the coming weeks. 
  • On Wednesday the Secretary of State announced funding for a research project to evaluate the rollout of the hugely successful HIV opt-out testing programme to 46 new sites across England.
  • On Friday 1 December pharmacies across England began offering the new contraceptive services announced recently as part of Pharmacy First. This is part of the NHS and government’s Primary Care Recovery Plan, announced by the head of the NHS and the Prime Minister in May, which committed to making it quicker and easier for millions of people to access healthcare on their high street.

Mum puts her voice at the heart of work to raise standards of care

The mother of a baby, born with a hole in his heart, has shared her experiences as part of an initiative to raise standards of care for congenital heart disease across Scotland.

Helen Zollinger has welcomed the country’s first ever standards for congenital heart disease (CHD), produced by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. The standards aim to ensure that consistently high levels of care and services are offered to all patients diagnosed with CHD and their carers.

Helen’s son Woody was diagnosed with a hole in his heart at her 20 week scan while she was pregnant.

Helen said: “It was a complete and utter shock. All of a sudden my husband Stewart and I had to come to terms with the fact that when our baby was born he was going to need major heart surgery.

“As parents, finding out your child has a heart problem is traumatic enough without then feeling you have nowhere to go to for support. I just found that baffling.”

Helen and Stewart, who live in Musselburgh, East Lothian, have spent a lot of time at the cardiac ward of the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, the specialist unit for the type of heart defect Woody suffers from, since he was born five years ago.

It was during that period she felt there was a difference in the availability of services and support in Glasgow and other parts of the country.

She said: “I had a meeting with some key members of the cardiac team in Glasgow and they explained that the structure for cardiology care was different across the country.

“I found this really problematic as I felt the support we were able to access in Glasgow fell away when we were discharged and returned home and this seemed wrong to me.” 

At that point Helen was invited on to a group set up by Healthcare Improvement Scotland to develop national standards for adult and paediatric CHD care in Scotland.

Helen has been able to share her experiences along with other patients, carers and healthcare professionals which have been used as the basis of what the standard for services should be in future.

She has also highlighted more accessible mental health support throughout the country as being a need, following her own experiences after the birth of Woody.

Among the recommendations in the standards, are also to improve detection rates of CHD in unborn babies.

CHD is the most common congenital abnormality, affecting approximately 1% of babies. A quarter of babies with congenital heart disease require medical intervention in the first year of life. Around 20,000 people with CHD currently live in Scotland.

Helen, who has since given birth to a daughter Bobbie (3), said: “The standards have shone a light on how beneficial it will be to have consistent levels of care across the country and the same level of support available to all patients and families.

“There’s a huge community of parents of children with CHDs in Scotland and I was able to connect a lot of them to Healthcare Improvement Scotland during the consultation period to add their own thoughts and experiences.

“I’m proud to have been able to add the voices of people from outside of the healthcare system and I’m hopeful that the new standards will make a big difference in helping families access a consistent level of care and support across the country.”

Fiona Wardell, Head of Standards at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said: “I’m delighted to see the publication of the CHD standards – they set out clearly what people can expect to experience.

“Crucially, you can hear the voices of people and their families throughout the standards. They reflect what matters to patients and carers and their passion, commitment and enthusiasm in the development group has been a key part of this process.”

The standards have also been welcomed by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

David McColgan, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “The parents and families of babies born with congenital heart disease are already facing terrific stress, so it is wrong that levels of care and support differ across Scotland.

“Everyone who has a congenital heart condition deserves the best start in life, irrespective of their postcode.

“We are delighted that Healthcare Improvement Scotland has shone a light on the inequalities and developed national standards to reinforce best practice across our health services.”

Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry announces Phase 9 of investigations

This announcement provides further information about a future Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) case study

Phase 9 of SCAI’s investigations concerns the provision of residential care in establishments for children and young people with long term healthcare needs, additional support needs and disabilities.

It is expected that public hearings will commence in spring 2025. This is an area of residential care that requires investigation as part of SCAI’s wide ranging terms of reference.

Investigation of this category of establishments has been ongoing throughout the life of the Inquiry and many relevant statements have already been provided by applicants.

The provision of residential care by the following institutions are being considered as part of the case study:

SchoolProviderLocation
Children’s Home, HumbieAlgrade TrustHumbie
Donaldson’s School for Deaf ChildrenThe Donaldson TrustEdinburgh
Harmeny SchoolHarmeny TrustBalerno
Ladyfield West Children’s HospitalNHS Dumfries & GallowayDumfries
Lendrick Muir SchoolSeamabRumbling Bridge
Lennox Castle HospitalNHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, and East Dunbartonshire CouncilLennoxtown, Glasgow
Linwood Hall Children’s HomeFife CouncilLeven
Melville HouseFife CouncilCupar
Monken Hadley / Corsbie Hall / Woodlands SchoolIndependentNewton Stewart
Ovenstone Residential SchoolFife CouncilPittenweem
Royal Blind SchoolRoyal BlindEdinburgh
Royal Scottish National HospitalNHS Forth ValleyLarbert
Starley Hall SchoolIndependentBurntisland
St Joseph’s HospitalDaughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul Rosewell
St Mary’s BalnakeilCongregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of GodGalashiels
St Vincent’s School for the Deaf and BlindDaughters of Charity of St Vincent de PaulTollcross, Glasgow
Woodfield Ladymary SchoolOur Lady of Charity of the Good ShepherdColinton, Edinburgh

Lady Smith, Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry said: “The Inquiry’s wide-ranging Terms of Reference include requiring us to investigate the provision of residential care for children in healthcare establishments providing long term care and also similar establishments.

“Phase 9 will, accordingly, examine the provision of residential care for children and young people who had long term healthcare needs, additional support needs, disabilities or a combination of those needs.

“We plan to hold public hearings and expect that they will be able to commence in spring 2025.

“A range of organisations were involved in the provision of such residential accommodation including the National Health Service, local authorities, voluntary and private providers.

“Our investigations have been ongoing throughout the life of the Inquiry.

“A number of people have already come forward, but we would encourage anyone with relevant information to get in touch with the Inquiry’s witness support team as soon as possible.”

The Inquiry’s witness support team can be contacted on 0800 0929 300, or emailed at talktous@childabuseinquiry.scot

Individuals can also write to the Inquiry by post at SCAI, PO Box 24202, Edinburgh EH3 1JN.

SCAI launched a new website earlier this year and includes a range of features to improve accessibility such as “Recite me” and a series of short British Sign Language videos.

UK announces £100m for vulnerable countries tackling climate change

  • £100 million of UK funding will help climate-vulnerable populations adapt to climate change.
  • At COP28 Summit today, the UK will call for bolder action to fight the impact climate change is having on health.
  • Package that contributes towards the £1.6 billion of climate aid announced by the Prime Minister on Friday.

The UK Government will make commitments to help vulnerable countries strengthen their resilience to the increasingly frequent and severe effects of climate change at the COP28 Summit today (Sunday 3 December).

International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell will announce £100 million to support some of the most climate-vulnerable countries to tackle climate change. This will support an initiative to strengthen early warning systems in countries on the front line of climate change, giving people advanced warning of cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather so they can move away from danger, saving lives and protecting vulnerable communities.

The funding will also help make health care in these areas more resilient and able to withstand disasters, like floods, and ready to deal with spikes in infectious diseases, like cholera and malaria, due to floods caused by climate change.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, which forces 26 million into poverty every year, the Government will also join calls for bolder collective action to protect the lives, health and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate change.

This supports the Prime Minister announcing major funding for climate projects and stressing the need for ambitious, innovative and pragmatic action.

International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell, said: “The devastating effects of climate change hit the most vulnerable the hardest.

“These funding commitments will help countries and people be better prepared and protected against extreme weather events and natural disasters. They will help roll out measures such as early warning systems, and open up access to climate finance to build resilient health services.

“The UK will continue to press for a bold and ambitious approach to support those on the frontline of our changing climate, and to create a safer planet for us all.”

On behalf of the UK, Minister Mitchell will endorse the ‘Getting Ahead of Disasters’ Charter, the ‘COP28 Declaration on Relief, Recovery and Peace’, and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’.

Speaking at COP28, he will outline details of the funding package, which include:

  • Nearly £20 million for a package of disaster risk financing and early warning systems. This will help the one-third of the world’s population who are not covered by early warning systems to prepare for climate shocks and extreme weather, reducing disaster-related mortality and damage. It will also provide affordable insurance against climate disasters, such as droughts.
  • Funding of £36 million for climate action in the Middle East and North Africa to support long-term climate stability. This will mobilise $500 million for clean energy and green growth projects, support 450,000 people to adapt to climate change, and support 200,000 women in better protecting their families from climate shocks. This delivers on the UK’s commitment to scale up pre-arranged finance for crisis recovery.
  • Over £4.4 million to improve access to climate finance for Small Island Developing States and enable them to adapt to the impacts of climate change, with support from the Global Environment Facility’s Special Climate Change Fund and the Alliance of Small Island States.
  • Another £3 million for a new research hub in partnership with Canada, to help local communities address climate shocks and adapt to the long-term impacts of a changing climate. This will be delivered through the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) programme, launched by the UK at COP26.
  • Up to £18 million for an innovative new programme to adapt and strengthen health systems. This will help partner countries manage the growing health impacts of climate change, from infectious diseases and food shortages, to water insecurity and other health-related emergencies. It will be the first climate and health programme to be announced by a G7 country.
  • A further £20 million for a new research programme to guide the UK’s future work on climate-resilient health systems, recognising the fast-evolving agenda and the need for a stronger evidence base of what works to address the growing threats from climate change to health.
  • Finally, £3 million for a new partnership with the International Rescue Committee to reduce the impact of climate-related crises on schools, students and communities. The Climate Resilient Education Systems Trial will build an evidence base of effective approaches to combatting climate change in and through education.

At the COP28 Summit on Sunday (3 December), the UK will convene experts and thought leaders for a panel discussion on climate security.

It will be the first time that the UK has hosted such an event, with the US, the EU, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, NATO, and United Nations Development Programme expected to attend.

It aims to improve collective understanding of the security implications of climate change, including global instability and conflict, while exploring best practice to respond to these risks through data-informed policy making, stress testing, analytical foresight capability, and international cooperation.

AND SCOTLAND CHIPS IN TOO

£2 million for loss and damage in marginalised communities

First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced that C40 Cities will receive £1 million from Scotland’s Climate Justice Fund to focus efforts on tackling loss and damage in marginalised communities.

The Scottish Government, in partnership with direct-funding charity GiveDirectly, will also provide a further £1 million from the fund to support communities in Malawi to deal with the impacts of climate-induced loss and damage.

The First Minister was speaking at a COP28 panel discussion with delegates from Bangladesh, Sierra Leone and France, and a youth representative from Argentina, on Scotland’s contribution to addressing loss and damage.

C40 Cities is a global network of nearly 100 mayors committed to halving their fair share of emissions by 2030. The Scottish Government will work with C40 Cities through their Inclusive Climate Action programme to address urban loss and damage, support sub-Saharan Africa’s first local Just Transition process and address losses and damages faced by climate migrant communities.

The latest funding allocations fulfil the commitment to treble the Climate Justice Fund to £36 million over the course of this Parliament. 

First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “Our world-first Climate Justice Fund will continue to focus on communities most affected by climate change, and in order to deliver for those who need it most we must ensure the views and needs of those typically marginalised in such communities – particularly urban voices from the Global South and youth perspectives – are heard.

“This funding for the Inclusive Climate Action programme will support cities in the Global South to deliver local inclusive climate action, build resilience for residents, pilot city-led approaches to loss and damage and build cities’ influence in global policy debates.

“While of immense importance, we cannot just provide funding to deal with the effects of climate-induced loss and damage alone.

“Devolved governments have a crucial and essential role to play in addressing loss and damage and the global journey to net zero – responsibility for over half of the emissions cuts needed at a global level lie with devolved state and regional governments.

“The C40 Cities programme aligns with our Climate Justice principles, and will provide cities with support that builds resilience and can be scaled up to meet community need.”

Mayor of Freetown and C40 Co-Chair Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr said: “The climate crisis is a global issue which causes local pain and consequences across generations. Loss and damage is fundamentally an issue of climate justice, as those who have contributed the least to climate breakdown are the ones who most bear the brunt of its chaos.

“This is true between countries and regions, but also between generations and gender, as well as within our cities, where the most vulnerable are the most severely affected.

“I thank the Scottish Government for its leadership in climate justice and support to C40. This funding will support cities in the Global South to deliver for their residents through local inclusive climate action, building resilience and piloting innovative city-led approaches to loss and damage.” 

Amazon supports new charity Second Chance Store launch

Ten employees from Amazon in Dunfermline played a key role in the launch of a new Amazon retail shop for Barnardo’s this week, when they packed and shipped more than 3,500 product donations for the Second Chance Store in central London.

The product selection – consisting of returned and refurbished Amazon items put back on sale at a reduced cost – features in-demand Christmas gifts with up to 50% savings on recommended retail prices.

While thousands of items including nearly-new gaming consoles, personal tech, toys and games have been donated to the high street store located at London’s Brunswick Centre, the range reflects the millions of returned, refurbished and open-box items available to buy at a discount all year-round from amazon.co.uk/amazonsecondchance.

The website also provides customers with information about product repair, recycling in their local community and trade-in for electronics.

“Working on the launch of the Second Chance Store for Barnardo’s has been a great opportunity for us to come together as a team, have some fun and support a charity that does great work in our community in Dunfermline, and across the UK,” said Ben Robertson from Amazon’s Dunfermline fulfilment centre.

“It’s also a great way to help customers see the range and quality of returned and refurbished items that are available to buy from Amazon online every day of the year.”

“Amazon is committed to giving more products a second chance – both through helping customers shop pre-loved, and through programmes to recycle, trade-in and repair products, contributing to a more circular economy,” added John Boumphrey, UK Country Manager, Amazon. 

“Our Second Chance Store, with all proceeds going to Barnardo’s, is all about offering customers a great way to shop second-hand this festive season, while supporting a brilliant charity we have been working with for many years.”

Across the UK and Europe, customer demand has driven second-hand shopping on Amazon into a billion-pound business.

In the UK alone, Amazon gave a second chance to more than four million products last year, helping British customers save more than £100 million by buying used or refurbished products at a discount.

In the first nine months of 2023, Amazon’s sales of second-hand goods in the UK increased by more than 15% compared to the same period last year.

So far this year, Amazon has facilitated the donation of more than 13 million products to more than 2,000 charities across the UK through its Retail and Fresh operations, and its Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) Donations, a programme which helps independent sellers using the Fulfilment by Amazon service donate their overstock or returned items automatically.

Charities including Barnardo’s, the British Heart Foundation, In Kind Direct, Scope and The Multibank initiative are amongst the donation recipients.

Product donations form one part of Amazon’s circular economy programme. In 2022, Amazon expanded its partnership with WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to support a global circular economy for products.

The company is also supporting the development of a sorting technology to improve plastic packaging recycling through involvement in the Digital Watermarks Initiative HolyGrail 2.0, driven by AIM, European Brands Association and powered by the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

The Amazon Second Chance Store is an expansion of Amazon’s existing relationship with Barnardo’s, with millions of products donated to the charity since 2019.

Amazon and Barnardo’s also launched a ground-breaking programme called the JOBS Project (Journey of Becoming Successful) which has supported 65 young people since 2021, with an ambition to help 500 people in the next five years, many of whom are care experienced, develop the skills needed to secure work and develop their careers.

As a signatory of the Care Leavers Covenant, Amazon is one of leading employers of care leavers in the UK.

Police Scotland: Support available for sextortion victims

Police Scotland is urging anyone targeted by sextortion to report it – so they can get the support they deserve.

Sextortion is sexual extortion and involves the threat of having sexual information, photos or videos shared with others. It is carried out to extort money or force a victim to do something against their will, control behaviour or obtain further images.

Figures published today, Friday, 1 December 2023, in Police Scotland’s 2023-24 Quarter 2 Performance Report, show an increase in reported crimes of threats and extortion compared to last year and since changes in crime recording introduced in April 2020.

Between April and September 2023 there were 1,430 crimes of threats and extortion compared to 819 in the same period last year (74%) and the five year mean of 443 or 223%. Analysis shows much of this relates to sextortion style crimes.

Assistant Chief Constable David Duncan said: “Sextortion is blackmail and those targeted should not pay, nor should they be embarrassed or scared to report it to police.

“We are experiencing an increase in the number of sextortion incidents being reported and although we are encouraged that victims appear more confident in coming forward, we know from our partners that it is still likely to be an under-reported offence.

“Criminals use the internet, social media, dating apps, web cams or pornography sites and fake identities to befriend people online and then threaten to send images to their family and friends.

“People shouldn’t panic, there is support available from policing and from third party organisations. We want people to know they will be treated with respect and dignity and the circumstances investigated professionally.

“There is information available on the Police Scotland website on ways you can stay safe online – such as not sharing intimate images.”

Sextortion can be committed by individuals however, organised crime gangs based overseas are also believed to be responsible.

Police Scotland’s 2023-24 Quarter 2 Performance Report will be discussed at the Scottish Police Authority Policing Performance Committee on Wednesday, 6 December 2023.

The inclusion of threats and extortion, such as online sextortion, contributed to a rise in overall violent crime reported between April and September 2023.

Homicides, attempted murders and serious assaults remain at similar levels compared to last year and lower than the five year average, while our world leading detection rate for homicides continues.

The report provides insight into the depth and breadth of police work undertaken by committed and professional officers and staff and how the outcome of that work relates to our strategic outcomes.