Seòmar agus comataidhean

I will ask Dr Mitchell about the role of Scottish institutions in the lead-up to COP and afterwards. Can you reflect on the contribution that your institution has made?

Deborah, what is Scotland’s place internationally and globally in the biodiversity crisis, both in the lead-up to and outcomes of COP15?

Does Deborah Long want to contribute?

Good morning, and thank you for joining us today.

In translating the outcomes of COP15 into actions, how will it be ensured that the targets will be delivered at global level, given that previous agreements have failed in that respect? Has there been progress on the global implementation mechanisms for biodiversity? We saw the signing of the high seas treaty at the weekend, so I will come to you first, Dr Diz, given that you are professor of international ocean governance.

Clearly, Scotland’s waters extend extensively into the Atlantic. There are obviously nearshore issues but, as you said, there are also international connections through the high seas treaty and so on. What are the implications for Scotland?

I agree with that. The issue has been brought to our attention and we have brought it to the attention of other relevant authorities. The point of the petition was legislation, but it is a reserved matter. If, as it is suggested, the House of Commons Transport Committee will be looking at accessible transport, we should write to draw to its attention the specific issue of front-facing wheelchair users and to ask whether it will come back to us once it has conducted its inquiry. Our job as a committee has probably come to a reasonable conclusion.

That is an interesting point about international leadership. Thank you. I pass back to the convener.

Liam Kerr asked about public finance. It is understood that private finance will also need to be mobilised to get anywhere near some of the targets. There are question marks about whether such finance has been used appropriately in international carbon offsetting.

What is your view, or Scottish Environment LINK’s view, on whether we should use private finance to support restoration? What would be the optimum programme that was equitable and reflected the need to meet the targets? We need balance in the finance system in dealing with private interests, which are investing extensively, as we have seen recently.

Do you think that Scotland is underdeveloped in its utilisation of its marine assets—the seas around us—when it comes to that twin-track approach of tackling the crisis of biodiversity loss as well as the climate crisis in relation to the carbon sink aspect?

Convener, if we are okay for time, I would like to bring in the other witness.