Scotland-Malawi Climate Cooperation: Malawi’s COP26 Homecoming

Members of the SMP, Malawians resident in Scotland, and other esteemed guests joined us for a special high-level, in-person reception with the President of Malawi, celebrating Scotland-Malawi climate cooperation during COP26.

Our honoured guests and speakers included:
(Click on hyperlinks to watch individual speeches)

• His Excellency Dr Lazarus Chakwera, the President of Malawi (and SMP Hon Co-Patron)
• Her Excellency, Monica Chakwera, First Lady of Malawi
• Councillor Frank Ross, Rt. Hon. Lord Provost and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh (and SMP Hon Co-President)
• Angus Robertson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
• Jenny Gilruth MSP, Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development
• Hon. Eisenhower Mkaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
• Hon. Nancy Tembo, Minister of Forestry and Natural Resources
• Hon. Agnes NyaLonje, Minister of Education
• CEO of The Scotland Malawi Partnership, David Hope-Jones

The event provided a unique opportunity to bring together those engaged in Scotland-Malawi climate cooperation with the Malawi COP26 delegation and the President of Malawi.

26 representatives of climate-related Scotland-Malawi link were able to meet the President, the Lord Provost and the three Ministers in person, telling them about their work to fight the climate crisis.

During COP26, Malawi was Chairing both the UN Least Developed Countries (LDC) block and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and therefore had a key role representing the global south. The SMP’s longstanding ‘Malawi at COP26’ strategy looks to help amplify Malawi’s voice during COP26. Speaking at the 2020 SMP AGM, the President of Malawi called for the Scotland-Malawi relationship to be held up as a “model to the world” at COP26, such that the bilateral relationship could “ignite a movement of climate change activists".

Speaking at the SMP’s 2021 AGM, the President of Malawi (who is also the ex officio SMP Hon. Co-Patron) ended his inspiring live speech saying: “Seeing some of you at COP26 will therefore be a great honour for me, because if this conference was happening in another country, it would be a mere conference. But since it is happening in Scotland, it will be a homecoming.” We are therefore delighted to title this reception, “Malawi’s COP26 Homecoming”.

The reception live-linked to a parallel event in Malawi, the Scottish Government funded Malawi Climate Leaders COP26 Hub in Lilongwe, which was formed in partnership by the 2050 Climate Group and the Malawi Scotland Partnership. The hub brought together 200 Young Climate Leaders from across Malawi. We heard live from the Young Climate Leaders and those attending the reception were be able speak one-to-one with the young people in Malawi through live links around the room.

As part of the event, we had an inspiring ‘youth take over’, with young Scots and young Malawians taking the stage to direct proceedings. We were able to listen directly to young Malawian Climate Leaders in Malawi on their priorities and then everyone in the event was able to share their views digitally through their phones. Click here to read the really inspiring messages we received live at the event from attendees against three questions:

• What would you like to see from COP26 – that reflects the priorities of Malawi?
• How would you like the SMP to work towards climate justice?
• What message would you like to send to the young Climate Leaders Hub in Lilongwe?

The event was kindly co-hosted by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, in his capacity as the SMP’s Hon Co-President. In 2005 the Lord Provosts of Edinburgh and Glasgow were instrumental in developing the modern era of the bilateral relationship and setting up the SMP, and each of their successors since have continued this strong commitment to Malawi.

Click the video, (below or to the right) to watch the speeches, from H.E. Dr Lazarus Chakwera, The President of Malawi, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, our CEO, David Hope-Jones, Angus Robertson MSP and Young Climate Leaders in Malawi at the Malawi Scotland Partnership #COP26 Youth Hub in Lilongwe.