It hardly seems to be a year since Glasgow played host to the COP26 climate conference and welcomed world leaders, environmentalists, young people and many others who were invested in protecting our climate and our planet. In April, the IPCC warned that is “now or never” to limit global warming.

The successes at COP26 included the signing of the Glasgow climate pact and the development of the Paris agreement rule book to provide guidance on how the Paris agreement is delivered.

Twelve months on, Egypt has just hosted COP27 in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Against the difficult backdrop of an unprecedented cost of living and energy crisis and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, COP27 restated the global commitment to tackling climate change. The progress included a focus on food security for the first time, which highlighted the importance of safeguarding food supply. Only this morning, the National Farmers Union stated that the UK is walking into a food supply crisis under a perfect storm of low yields, supply challenges and soaring energy costs bearing down on farmers across the UK. There was a renewed focus on finance, and on mobilising private finance as a key aspect of global action. However, the most important breakthrough focused on climate impacts. It was recognised that climate change is already adversely affecting many countries and threatens increasing damage and destruction with every additional increment of warming.

Many have seen COP27 as the COP that will go down in history as the UN climate change conference in which the breakthrough loss and damage fund was agreed. As the First Minister outlined in her speech at a loss and damage panel:

“the nations that suffer the worst loss and damage ... continue to be ... those nations that have done least—in some cases, virtually nothing—to cause the problem of climate change in the first place.”

The loss and damage fund will assist climate-vulnerable countries to address impacts that cannot be or have not been adapted to. That important breakthrough demonstrates real progress, but it is only the beginning of a difficult process. Key agreements are still needed on which countries will contribute to the fund, how much each country will pay, and which countries will be able to benefit.

COP27 made it clear that discussions on support must run parallel with dialogue on how to mitigate the impact of, and protect against, climate change through adaptations. Therefore, there is much work to do.

The Climate Change Committee report entitled “COP27: Key outcomes and next steps for the UK” sets out the economic damage, such as destruction of property, and the non-economic damage, such as loss of cultural heritage, that are already affecting communities, ecosystems and businesses. There have been the devastating floods in Pakistan and Nigeria and the drought-induced famines in Somalia. Who could not avoid the intense heatwaves in Europe in the summer? Those are all testament to the impact that is already bearing down on all of us.

What can a small nation such as Scotland realistically achieve in the context of a global climate crisis? I am delighted that Scotland was the first nation to pledge financial support to address loss and damage, and I am aware that Scotland saw huge interest in our renewable sector at COP27.

I recently attended a girls in energy conference, hosted by an energy operator and its college partners. The programme supports girls to take a one-year course during secondary 4 and provides a platform for them to pursue a career in energy. Given that that sector is still considered to be male dominated, will the cabinet secretary say what action the Scottish Government is taking to maximise opportunities for girls and women to pursue educational pathways and careers in STEM?

The cost of living crisis is indeed having an impact, and many families are facing the heartbreak of rehoming their pets. The Dogs Trust found that almost half the Scottish dog owners who were polled would now find it difficult to give their dog all that it needs, while 62 per cent said that the cost of living crisis was likely to have an impact on whether they would consider rehoming or purchasing a dog in the next 12 months.

What action is the Scottish Government taking to engage with animal charities to ensure that, especially over Christmas, Scotland’s pet owners get the best advice and support possible, to keep them united with their faithful companions?

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking with relevant stakeholders to support animal welfare over winter. (S6O-01615)

What steps in addition to the action that has already been outlined by the cabinet secretary are being taken to improve prisoner welfare and wellbeing and tackle the tragic issue of prison suicides?

Our next item is our third evidence session on reducing drug deaths in Scotland and tackling problem drug use. I refer members to papers 1 and 2.

I welcome to the meeting Angela Constance, Minister for Drugs Policy, and her Scottish Government officials: Orlando Heijmer-Mason, deputy director for drugs policy; and Roz Currie, team leader with the Drug Deaths Taskforce response. Thank you very much indeed, minister and colleagues, for joining us—and for forgoing your opportunity to make some opening remarks, minister. We will therefore move straight to questions.

I will jump straight in, if I may. First, thank you for keeping the committees informed about the development of the national mission plan and the oversight group, and for keeping the Parliament updated on a range of developments relating to drug deaths, the medication-assisted treatment standards, substance misuse and the justice system, and other areas of on-going work.

I will open up the evidence session with a couple of questions on alcohol and drug partnerships. The “Changing Lives” report sets out some of the challenges experienced by specific populations, including women and young people. I was disturbed to understand the correlation between deaths of

“women with substance use problems that occur in the perinatal period”

and

“child protection proceedings or having their child taken into care.”

On young people, the report says:

“Drug-related deaths among young people (under 25 years) have risen sharply in recent years.”

Related to that particular issue, action 30 outlines how

“ADPs and services must ensure specific pathways are developed to ensure young people can access the support they need when they need it.”

As a former member of the Aberdeen City ADP, I would be interested to hear any update that you can provide on action 29, relating to pathways for women, and action 30, relating to young people. Specifically, I would like to know about the progress being made by ADPs in developing local pathways to services and support, given their crucial role in ultimately reducing drug harm and drug death numbers.

I call Natalie Don, after whom I will bring in Paul O’Kane.

I move to Paul O’Kane, then I will bring in Alex Cole-Hamilton.

I will bring in Alex Cole-Hamilton.

We move on to questions on lived experience. I will bring in Gillian Martin and then Miles Briggs.