Dear COP - from Orkney

Dear COP

Against the backdrop of the COP26 discussions in Glasgow, everyone’s talking about climate change.

Here in Orkney, we’ve worked in harmony with our natural resources for millenia.

We’re a small community – seen as remote by some – but we punch well above our weight in the energy world and we already know that renewable energy holds the key to slowing the rate of climate change.

Crucially, renewables also have the potential to drive the global economic recovery that’s now needed - and do it sustainably.

Over 100 per cent of Orkney’s electricity demand has been met from renewable generation since 2013 with the majority of that coming from wind. We're also learning to harvest energy from our greatest natural resource – our oceans.

We’re fiercely proud of our clean energy track record in Orkney, and our status as an internationally recognised global centre of excellence for renewables. As an innovative community we’ve always sought to find practical solutions to the challenges that come hand in hand with island life.

There’s a long road ahead of us though and there’s much more to be done in decarbonising both our transport and heating systems. Our fuel poverty levels are amongst the highest in the UK and as a dispersed island community our carbon footprint is substantial.

Major hurdles are in our way - rigid regulatory systems hamper true progress and the outdated charging system for bringing our clean, green, energy to market is a real barrier to development.

We urgently need better support for demonstration projects to ensure that world-leading technology companies can reach commercialisation. Only then can our community – and the world - start reaping the benefits to our daily lives and environment.

We need decision makers at Scottish and UK Government level to step up and - if they are truly committed to their Net Zero aspirations – reward island communities with the tools to thrive, flourish and make a real contribution to Scotland’s greener future.

Now, as the world faces its greatest threat, we believe the Orkney way could hold the key to building a more sustainable future for humanity, while driving a green economic boom in the process.

Team Orkney