#COP21: Scottish First Minister At UN Climate Summit

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the discussions she has had at the climate change summit yesterday made her “cautiously optimistic” that a bold and ambitious deal will be agreed in Paris.

The First Minister attended the COP21 yesterday and has held a series of constructive and informative bilaterals with Mary Robinson of the Mary Robinson Foundation, German Environment Minister Rita Schwarzeluhr-Sutter and Dr John Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The First Minister has also taken part in a number of events – involving the Governors of California and Vermont, the Premiers of Ontario, Quebec and South Australia and the Presidents of Catalonia and the Basque Country – to promote Scotland’s innovation and approach to climate justice and learn lessons from others around the world.

The First Minister said: “There was a sense coming into this conference that already it had got further than some previous efforts had.

“I think there is an understanding that to not reach a deal here would be devastating for everyone.

“While I recognise that there are difficult issues to be resolved and there is still a long way to go I am leaving Paris with a sense of cautious optimism that a deal will be reached on an agreement that will give a sure signal of the global determination to tackle climate change and move to a low carbon future.”