Scotland is a progressive nation, brimming with innovation and confident of its role in the world. Today, Scotland is at the forefront of tackling some of the biggest issues of the 21st century.
Here are just some ways that Scotland is leading the world.
The Scottish Parliament passed the most ambitious climate change law in the world. Scotland met the headline carbon emissions target six years early.
In fact, our performance has been the best in the UK and better than every EU-15 country except Sweden.
In March last year the then UN Climate Change Secretary, Christiana Figueres, said that Scotland’s progress on climate change had been “very exemplary to the world”.
Scotland was the first country in the world to set up a Climate Justice Fund.
We believe that developed countries who have contributed the most to climate change have an obligation to support the poorest countries that are feeling it’s greatest effects.
That’s why we launched the Climate Justice Fund 2012 with former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson.
The fund has now helped 70,000 people in developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa gain access to safe drinking water. Over the next five years, £12 million will be invested in the fund to help the world’s poorest communities adapt to the challenges of climate change.
Scotland’s universities are amongst the best in the world.
Scotland has more universities in the top 200 per head of population than any other country except Luxembourg. And
research conducted in 2014 found that 77 per cent of Scottish university research was world leading or internationally excellent.
Scotland is also the destination of choice for international students. In 2015-16, Scotland had the highest share of international university students of any UK nation.
We want our university sectors to continue to punch above their weight. That’s why we restored free tuition and why, for the sixth year in a row, we are investing more than £1 billion in higher education in 2017-18.
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We are showing global leadership in peace-keeping and conflict resolution.
Nicola Sturgeon announced £1.2 million of funding to train more than 200 women from conflict zones around the world on peacekeeping and conflict resolution.
This follows the successful Syrian Women’s Advisory Board, which was established by the Scottish Government and supported by the UN Special Envoy to Syria. The Board helped supported the ongoing Syrian peace process by ensuring that the voices of women are heard.
Our renewables sector is at the cutting edge of low-carbon technology development.
Scotland was amongst the first countries in the world to harness electricity from its waters, through the ambitious hydro building programme in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today we lead the way on tidal energy. The
world’s first tidal energy farm is being established in Scotland, supported by £23 million of funding from the Scottish Government.
Overall, Scotland has exceeded its target to produce 50 per cent of its electricity from renewables by 2015 – helping to fight climate change and create jobs too.
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Scotland has been named one of the world’s top circular economy nations – in recognition of our work to keep precious resources in use for as long as possible.
The Scottish Government, and its agencies, recently won the Award for Circular Economy Governments, Cities and Regions at the World Economic Forum summit at Davos.
Scotland’s reputation as a leader in science and medicine stretches back centuries – from the discovery of penicillin to the development of the ultrasound scanner.
The
life sciences sector now employs 37,000 people in Scotland – and company turnover in the industry grew by a massive 29 per cent between 2010 and 2014.
Scotland is also leading the way in emerging markets. For example, Glasgow built more satellites in the last two years than any other city in Europe.
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Scotland has been recognised, by ILGA-Europe, as the the best country in Europe on LGBTI equality.
We have passed historic same-sex marriage legislation, which is recognised by many as being amongst the most progressive in the world.
And we are committed to reviewing and reforming gender recognition law, so that it’s in line with international best practice for people who are Transgender or Intersex.
Computer games developed in Scotland are played by millions of people around the world.
The latest version of Grand Theft Auto, developed in Scotland, has now sold 70 million copies worldwide and was the fastest-selling entertainment product in history.
Abertay University in Dundee was the first university in the world to offer taught courses in games programming and artwork – last year their courses were
ranked the best in Europe.
Scotland is home to the world’s biggest arts festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Edinburgh’s festivals had a combined audience of 4.5 million 2015 – making them as big as the world cup. Overall, the economic benefit to Scotland was an incredible £313 million.
This year we’ll ensure Edinburgh’s festivals remain world-class by providing £2.3 million of funding – an increase of £300,000 to support the commemoration of 70 years since their establishment.
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