The formation of the Scotia Group

The Scotia Group was convened following a meeting of the Quraysh Council of Overseers on 21 January 2021. One of the few upsides of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore a humanitarian sense of a “linked fate” and a renewed impetus towards international solidarity, to make individuals, communities and multilateral institutions better and more effective.

The Scotia Group

Believes that the 26th United Nations Conference for Climate Change (COP26) to be hosted in Glasgow in November marks ‘T minus 9’ years that represents the urgent need to reduce emissions by half before 2030 by which time the energy transition should be well underway.

The goals of the Scotia Group

In the lead-up to Glasgow COP26, the Scotia Group will convene a series of Climate Majlis Dialogue sessions where a diverse range of global experts will explore a variety of subjects relating to Climate Action and the Rule of Law.

The Scotia Group has partnered with Friends to convene each of these Majlis dialogues, including Alan Turing Institute, the Transatlantic Leadership Network, MIT, University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of St. Andrews, and the International Bar Association.

The aim of these discussions is to champion key areas relating to the rule of law, which policy experts believe could be harnessed to positively ‘move the dial’ and help avoid a 1.5°C rise in global temperatures by 2030. It also aims to look at the process challenges and institutional complexities of climate action to help catalyse action.

The methods of the Scotia Group

Following the conclusion of the Climate Majlis Dialogues, a communique will be drafted by the Scotia Group, which will incrementally amass and incorporate the most relevant and dynamic suggestions from each session. In addition, members of the Scotia Group are encouraged to put forward their own proposals for consideration and discussion by the rest of the Group and the Fellows. Proposals can be accessed here. It is hoped that the communique will include bold and transformative recommendations which can be put into effect after the Glasgow Summit concludes.

At this point, the COP process will be handed over to Africa for COP27 and the Scotia Group aims to contribute a ‘tool kit’ framework which can be applied in more detail as discussions turn to the topic of vulnerable communities. A particular focus for the Group is considering the practical ways that the law can be used as a tool for climate protection.

A priority for theScotia Group is to underline how the UK, both as a leading democracy and as President of COP26, can serve as role model of using the rule of law to advance global environmental interests.