Navigating Net Zero Handbook

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6

Agreements, COPs and Protocols

While the buzz around COP26 in Glasgow was hard to miss for Scottish food and drink

businesses, it might feel easier to summit Ben Nevis carrying a full cask of whisky than to

navigate the road of climate negotiations that led up to it, which can feel like a maze of

protocols and agreements.

It was at this pivotal conference, in November 2021, that the Scotland Food & Drink

Partnership announced its Net Zero Commitment – our pledge to meeting the Scottish

Government’s Net Zero targets by 2045.

However, before we dive further into that, it's worth brushing up on said protocols and

agreements, starting with COP itself.

Standing for ‘Conference of Parties’, COP is the supreme decision-making body of the

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It meets annually

to review the implementation of the Convention and negotiate new commitments or

agreements, such as the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact.

Glasgow, Kyoto, Montreal and Paris – A Common Climate Connection

Over the years, various international protocols and conventions have been established

to address the challenge of anthropogenic climate change and mitigate its impacts. For

those in the Scottish food and drink industry, the following are the most pertinent.

Montreal Protocol

Adopted in 1987, the Montreal Protocol is an international agreement designed to protect

the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting

substances, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons. It is widely regarded as one

of the most successful environmental agreements to date.

Kyoto Protocol

Adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, the Kyoto Protocol was the first legally

binding international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It set binding emission

reduction targets for developed countries, with the goal of reducing overall emissions by

at least 5% below 1990 levels during the commitment period of 2008-2012.

Paris Agreement

Adopted in 2015, the Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature rises to well below

2°C above pre-industrial levels, with eOorts to further limit the increase to 1.5°C. It

requires countries to set nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce

greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen their eOorts over time.

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