IN the closing stages of COP26, it was Nicola Sturgeon leading calls for Boris Johnson to step up and return to Glasgow to drive the deal over the line.
The Prime Minister’s last appearance at the global gathering on Wednesday included being booed at a railway station and forced to defend the Tories against sleaze allegations in a hastily ended press conference.
It’s a far cry from when Johnson told a party conference in 2019 he did not want Scotland’s First Minister “anywhere near” the summit.
Sturgeon has been pictured with prominent politicians and activists the past two weeks, from US president Joe Biden and Germany’s Angela Merkel to Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough.
Nicola Sturgeon speaking with Canadian premier Justin Trudeau during COP26
Despite not having a seat at the COP negotiating table, there’s been also announcements from the Scottish Government such as funding for climate loss and damage.
The contrast between the leaders has not gone unnoticed by international media covering the conference.
Ika Ferrer Gotic, a senior news producer and anchor with N1 CNN news channel in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said it was impossible to overstate how important the summit was for Johnson’s image internationally.
She said: “He claimed that Brexit was an opportunity for his country to become a more active member of the global community. He also said his government was committing to reducing its reliance on coal, despite the prospect of a controversial new mine opening in North West England.
“Boris Johnson has earned a lot of criticism during COP26, firstly, leaving the climate summit in a private jet, then not wearing a mask midst of a global pandemic.”
Gotic said Sturgeon had shown “real leadership” during COP26.
She added: “I had the opportunity to meet the First Minister during a school visit in Glasgow and speak to her about Scotland leading the way of climate recovery.
“My objective observation tells me she is indeed a strong woman with clear agenda.
“Nicola Sturgeon enjoys a positive international image of a woman leader who addresses all issues but also takes responsibility in case of government failures.”
However Sturgeon has faced criticism over her appearances at COP26, including that she “abandoned” Holyrood. She responded by saying she had an important role to play in making the most of “the opportunity to showcase Scotland”.
Anthony Salamone, managing director of political analysis firm European Merchants, said she appeared to have clear objectives for the conference.
He said: “One was to demonstrate that Scotland is progressive and ambitious on climate change, I think that objective is mainly geared towards the global audience.
“Then a more domestic objective which is to demonstrate that Scotland could be successful as an independent state.
READ MORE: Bizarre twist as Tory MSP’s attack on FM wins her international praise
“This is not by talking about independence, but just by demonstrating through being at COP and speaking with world leaders and attending events and so on.”
He said while the level of ambition of the Scottish Government may be recognised globally, it also reflected the “structural weakness” of the fact Scotland is not independent or part of the EU and can therefore only have a limited role.
“In respect of the domestic objective, of demonstrating Scotland could be successful in the world, I think the verdict on that aligns very much with our existing independence debate,” he said. “People who already support the SNP and independence would have been pleased with the work of the Scottish Government at COP26 and those who oppose the SNP and independence will not.
“We exist in a very polarised post-Brexit environment where the Scottish Government’s European and international engagement is filtered through the lens of the independence debate, even when it shouldn’t be so.
“It is perfectly right for the Scottish Government to engage in what’s happening in the world, that makes sense regardless of the independence debate.”
Meanwhile campaigners who want to see more women included in leadership roles in climate negotiations argued Sturgeon should have been given an even greater role.
Bianca Pitt, co-founder of SHE Changes Climate, said: “I was totally disappointed that she wasn’t brought on for the negotiations. Why would we not use such a high-profile woman, such a strong leader?”
Pitt said that only two of the 12 directors in the UK COP team were women – despite the UK signing up to a UN pledge for equal representation.
She added: “It is the same old repetition that women are the assistants and then men take the decisions. And look at the results – COPs that fail women, fail.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel