Heads of government will be among 30,000 delegates to converge on Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus for COP26 to draw up a new climate change strategy.

Climate change secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I am pleased that Glasgow has been confirmed as the host city of COP26, now that the joint UK and Italy bid to host the summit has been approved.  

“It is right that this conference should come to Scotland given our leadership in climate action. Scotland was one of the first countries in the world to acknowledge the global climate emergency and the Scottish Government has introduced the toughest targets in the UK to ensure our action matches the scale of our climate ambitions.

“We look forward to working collaboratively with partners to deliver an ambitious and effective conference that ensures Scotland plays a leading role to help promote the increased global effort to tackle climate change.

 “I have no doubt that Glasgow will deliver a highly successful conference and I look forward to welcoming delegates to Scotland.”

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “It is a tremendous honour for our city and recognition of the strides on sustainability we have made that Glasgow will host an event of such global significance.

“The Climate Emergency is the issue of our age and COP26 will be the most significant coming together of world leaders to discuss it since the signing of the Paris Agreement.

“This is the century of the city and cities are best placed to get to grips with the global climate emergency. Here in Glasgow we are determined to become the UK’s first ‘zero carbon city’.

“Our ambition is to be at the forefront on climate action and we hope the efforts in our city can encourage the attending world leaders to deliver for our planet.”

Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “This is fantastic news for Scotland and for Glasgow, which is already aiming to become the UK’s first net-zero city.

“Scotland has led the world by taking real action on climate change and is well on the way to achieving some of the world’s most ambitious climate change and renewable energy targets. The climate emergency means that we must constantly update our ambitions to keep pace with the latest science, so hosting this event is a real coup for our largest city.

“Scotland’s renewable energy industry is looking forward to working with the world’s leading climate change experts to make sure that the COP agenda is followed by concrete action.”

Lang Banks, director at WWF Scotland, added: “The fossil fuel era began in Scotland and in 2020 the nations of the world must come to Glasgow and say that this generation will be the last fossil fuel generation and that they are serious about increased action to address the joint climate and nature emergencies we face.

“Scotland was the first nation in the world to declare a climate emergency and last week the First Minister put this at the heart of her Government’s work for the next twelve months.

“Between now and 2020, when the eyes of the world will be on us, it’s vital these commitments are being put into action so we can demonstrate how embracing bolder action on climate in Scotland reaps benefits for people and our economy.”