Earlier this month, two news stories linked directly to major
challenges of our time - post-Covid recovery and climate change -
met head on.
I woke up to "beyond Level 0" coverage as many of the remaining
Covid restrictions were removed, including reports of clubbers out
enjoying themselves in city venues from Sunday midnight into the
wee small hours - good news for many nighttime economy businesses
who were desperate to re-open.
Of course, we warmly welcomed the removal of restrictions and it
was a big step in the right direction, but with significant
concerns from members - especially around lack of clarity from the
Scottish Government on the return to the office.
By lunchtime the headline focus had moved on as the UN-backed
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report was
released, starkly stating that global warming is dangerously close
to spiralling out of control.
We were told humans are "unequivocally" to blame and that rapid
action to cut greenhouse gas emissions could limit some impacts,
but that others are now locked in with the heatwaves, hurricanes
and other weather extremes that are already happening, only
becoming more severe.
The latest data from Centre for Cities reports that only 15% of
city centre office workers have returned. As we move beyond
level 0 and all businesses can now open, we need office workers to
return to the city centre Monday to Friday, spending money. The
hospitality and retail sectors are especially reliant on that
weekday footfall.
Glasgow has been the hardest hit city centre in the UK outside
of London and businesses need to hear a clear return to office plan
from those in power.
The Scottish Government's position on continuing to work from
home "if you can" is confusing many and we know that businesses can
be trusted to work out a responsible return which takes into
account their business needs, staff concerns and customer
demands.
In addition working from home might suit some staff but not
others. Many don't have adequate facilities, are complaining
of isolation and mental health issues, and lack personal
mentoring and development.
Of course, there is a belief that working from home or at least
hybrid working is seen as a contributor to the fight against global
warming, as commuting journeys are reduced.
In just three months' time COP26 comes to Glasgow and will try
to wring much more ambitious climate action out of the nations of
the world, and the money to make it happen.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he hoped the UN climate report
would be "a wake-up call for the world to take action now, before
we meet in Glasgow" and US President Joe Biden tweeted : "We can't
wait to tackle the climate crisis. The signs are unmistakable. The
science is undeniable. And the cost of inaction keeps
mounting."
So we face the conundrum of embracing and embedding actions to
tackle climate change and a just transition to net-zero, while
still driving economic recovery.
Chamber member Hazel Gulliver, Director of Engagement at
ScottishPower, told me: 'Everything I now do in my role is focused
around striving towards net zero and post-Covid economic
recovery'.
It seems that these two major challenges of our time are now
inextricably linked, and for the foreseeable future we will all
have to do the same.
So, as we hurtle towards COP26, to this end I'm greatly
encouraged by the pivotal role of the City Centre Task Force in
combining the efforts of the Council, our business community and
government to ensure everything has been done to speed up the
centre's sustainable recovery, as lockdown restrictions come to an
end.
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