On 11 June, SSN’s Annual Conference brought together around 400 participants from across Scotland’s public sector to explore urgent issues in climate action and sustainability. The event was chaired by Dr. John Wincott (SSN Chair) and Dr. Kate Donovan (Edinburgh Climate Change Institute and ClimateXChange).
Conference sessions included:
- A pre-recorded address from the Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy
- Dr. Richard Dixon (Chair of Environmental Standards Scotland) presented on In the Red: Costs, Opportunities and a Call to Action, a report produced for the Royal Scottish Geographical Society
- Phil Raines (Scottish Government) shared a policy update on public sector climate action
- Professor Julian Manley (University of Central Lancashire) explored personal and professional resilience in response to climate challenges
- Andrew Forsyth (Zurich Resilience Solutions) and Craig Love (Scottish National Investment Bank) contributed to a session on financial risk and sustainable resilience
A panel discussion on improving resilience and sustainability, hosted by the SSN Adaptation Sub-Committee and chaired by Dr. Emma Yule (Verture), featured insights from:
- Amy Ritchie, University of Strathclyde
- Cat Payne, Verture
- Lorna Jarvie, South Ayrshire Council
- Dr. Joanna Teuton, Public Health Scotland
The conference offered practical reflections, strategic insights, and shared learning to support the public sector's climate ambitions.