COP26: Glasgow's Lord Provost welcomes chance for history at summit

A Glasgow Agreement could be the result of the UN climate summit, which is being hailed as the last best hope to tackle climate change.

In what is the biggest policing and security operation the country has ever staged – even greater than the G7 summit in Gleneagles in 2007 – there are already signs in the city of the scale of the summit and the impact hosting it will have. Close to the SEC campus, where it is being held, a ring of steel has already been thrown up as preparations are scaled up.

However, while there are warnings that its citizens may face disruption during the 12-day event through travel restrictions, strikes by rail and cleansing workers and potential demonstration issues, it’s first citizen, Lord Provost Philip Braat, believes this is a time when the city is on the cusp of being part of history.

Glasgow is the host city for the COP26 climate summit from November 1 to 12

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“It is exciting that the eyes of the world will be on Glasgow and it’s that Glasgow is probably the most talked-about city on the planet right now – and quite rightly so,” the Lord Provost said.

“It is great that Glasgow has been chosen as the host city for this historic event. Over the last few decades, Glasgow has built up this reputation as a centre for excellence and, with its expertise and knowhow, for being able to host some of the biggest exhibitions and conferences and sporting events. We just have to think back to the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and to the Euros, more recently, so I think that hosting COP26 is a worthy reflection of that reputation. I am also very happy that it is here because, ultimately, after the past 18 months that we as city and society have gone through.”

Mr Braat believes there will be benefits to businesses and citizens at a much-needed time.

He added: “There will be thousands of delegates and activists coming to the city and it will be a massive boon to the city’s economy and in particular to the hospitality trade at a time when they need that injection of support. I think COP will deliver that.

“Even more importantly I think we have to realise that the summit and its outcome will benefit the world and it is of an existential importance to everyone, not just to this city, but to the whole planet. The result is absolutely critical so I am hoping that on November 13 to be reading headlines that we have the Glasgow Agreement. That is ultimately what we are aiming for – a in that positive, meaningful end result after two weeks of negotiations that will hopefully give us a significant legacy and a significant sustainable planet to take forward so that the next generations won’t look back with shame on the current generation.”

Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Philip Braat. Photograph by Colin Mearns.

As steps are made to get the city COP26 ready, the city’s leadership has faced criticism in past weeks over its cleansing policy and claims of dirty streets and there was a backlash when Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken dismissed them, saying the city needed no more than a “spruce up” ahead of COP26.

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Speaking yesterday, Ms Aitken said the council was focusing on dealing with fly-tipping ahead of the COP26 summit and acknowledged there are “hotspots” where it is a particular problem.

Ms Aitken said the pandemic has had a “significant impact” on the city’s cleansing services but she insisted the litter situation is improving.

Lord Provost Philip Braat Lord has been connected to communities throughout the pandemic

With road closures due to be in place, including part of the Clydeside Expressway from 9pm this evening, Mr Braat said he was very acutely aware of the possible disruption – not just in his role as Lord Provost, but also as the local councillor for the area where many of the meetings and side events linked to the summit are being staged.

“We know there could well be other disruptions with regards to a potential rail strike,” he added. “Everyone has the right to withdraw their labour in situations where they are feeling aggrieved or want to seek financial alleviation, but I have to stress the point that these are part of national negotiations that Glasgow does not have any direction or influence over.

“The impact and focus of any potential strike will be on Glasgow – and understandably so. But, from my perspective – and I utterly respect the unions making that decision – I also want to balance out with the disruption that it will cause to the citizens of Glasgow who simply want to go about their day-to-day business so I hope that all parties concerned will take that on board during any further national negotiations.

“There will also be some unknown disruptions, whether it is activists who may block roads. I think they are very passionate about what they believe in and I’m delighted that they are taking action and that finally their voices are being heard but, ultimately, because of the significance of COP26, we don’t have any alternative option. We need to have COP26. Whether it took place here in Glasgow or elsewhere in the world we would expect to have some disruption even for the simple matter of having an event attracting dozens of world leaders, which has an impact on security as well and it will have an impact on residents.

“However, I hope that residents will see the ultimate benefit of that. If we can say at the end of COP26 that we have delivered a sustainable, green world plan that secures the long term and longevity of our planet, I hope that disruption will have been worthwhile.”

Glasgow Lord Provost Philip Braat with some of the over 40,000 Easter eggs to be delivered to schools across the city. Photo by Gordon Terris.

Glasgow is a city which is no stranger to protest and marches for causes and the Lord Provost recognises it’s everyone’s democratic right to have their voices heard.

“There are officially sanctioned demonstrations taking place, including a youth march, and they are important because people’s voices need to be heard,” he added. “Activists should be there – they are there with the passion that they want to see real change and that is absolutely right. I will hopefully be joining in with that because I want to add my voice to their voice to highlight to the world leaders that they must make the tough decisions and bold ambition to ensure that we deliver on a proper agreement.”

Mr Braat said the city had been preparing for COP for months during a time when it has been handling the Covid crisis.

“Whatever has been asked of us we have done on top of having to make sure that the citizens of Glasgow have stayed safe during the last 18 months,” he added. “As a local councillor and resident in Glasgow, I am fully aware that the state of our communities and the streets we live in are very important to most people. If they are not clean, people will make their voices heard, but decisions relating to that are not in my gift as the civic leader of the city. There are other people who have been charged with those decisions and implementing them, but I am also aware that some of these decisions aren’t easy to take.

“I have been in that position myself with the previous administration when I was the city treasurer. You have to make sure that resources are available against competing demands from various departments and stakeholders. Beyond that, I can’t interfere as that would be inappropriate for me as Lord Provost, but I want to say I really respect the work that all of the council’s frontline staff – and that includes the cleansing staff, the social care sector, and anyone else in the council and in the wider public sectors – have done for the city during the past 18 months to get us through the worst times of the pandemic to the place we are now.

“I go out into communities throughout the city regularly and I listen to their concerns and I try to help as best as I can, whether that is feeding that information back to the relevant departments or rolling up my sleeves and helping out with litter-pick events. That’s what I see as a role I can inhabit – showing support and bringing a message of hope. I think the city is ready to host the best but also the most crucial and important COP in history.”

It is in not unusual for the Lord Provost to turn up in his jeans and get on with the job of helping communities, groupswhether it is handing out food packages during the pandemic or handing out bowls of soup at a charity project in the city, as he did just a few nights ago.

This week, Glasgow council launched its draft Green Deal roadmap for the city, a nine-year mission to transform the city’s economy in order to tackle the climate emergency.

The Glasgow Green Deal objectives are to reduce emissions and therefore climate risk; create sustainable jobs and quality places; eliminate poverty and deliver justice through inclusion and equality.

Mr Braat said the legacy of COP26 for the city will be building a greener, sustainable, Glasgow – and that companies will be chapping on the city’s door to be here.

He said: “The way forward for any city in the world will be in the green sector, producing clean and green technology and investing in clean and green industries. Many cities around the world will be desperate to seek inward investment from such companies, but I am convinced if we have the Glasgow Agreement the benefits we can reap from that will be immense.”

Coming into post in January 2020 after his predecessor Eva Bolander stepped down following a row over personal items she had claimed for on council expenses as part of her civic duties, Mr Braat says he feels his term of office has been dominated by the pandemic.

“I might have had plans and ambitions that I wanted to do and it might have been slightly different but I like everyone else had to adapt to the role. I had the choice.  Do I sit back or do I go out and make a positive difference and for me it was case of rolling up my sleeves and going out in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt on helping groups and volunteers with food deliveries. It was my chance to thank people for what they were doing. What I will remember about this term of office is being able to go out and might so many people and listen to their family stories and connect with communities across Glasgow. I thank all the community groups, volunteers, frontline and key workers from all sectors for what they have done for the city during the toughest of times."