WORLD LEADING climate change commentator Christiana Figueres is preparing to tell the world to 'wake up' and take climate action, during the annual Macaulay Lecture, taking place during the first week of COP26.

The Macaulay Development Trust, with the James Hutton Institute, will host the 43rd TB Macaulay Lecture, live and online on Tuesday, November 2 at 19:00 GMT, from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow.

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Ms Figueres is an internationally recognised leader on climate action, having steered the global diplomatic effort that culminated in the 2015 Paris Agreement and during the lecture will discuss contemporary environmental issues in Scotland

The two hour event, hosted by broadcast journalist Laura Goodwin, will take place in front of a live studio audience, and Ms Figueres will be joined by two young climate change leaders for what is expected to be a lively panel discussion for the latter part of the evening.

Ms Figueres has previously praised Scotland’s efforts in leading the way against climate change. “Just because it’s a small country doesn’t mean that the impact is small. The fact is that every country counts, every role modelling counts, and every leadership counts. Everything counts here.”

Macaulay Development Trust chair, Fran van Dijk, added: “Science shows us that we are standing at the edge of a precipice, and we have the rest of this decade to avert climate catastrophe. If there’s one person who can help us work together to build momentum for the systemic change we need, it’s Christiana Figueres.”

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Chief Executive of the James Hutton Institute, Professor Colin Campbell, commented: “Christiana Figueres will focus on the urgent need to shift from rhetoric to action in a bid to survive the climate crisis and shape the approach to our shared future. We expect an empowering, challenging and committed debate to follow.”

The Macaulay Lecture is the only event during COP26 which Ms Figueres will be speaking at, is expected to signal a call for action. “This is not climate change anymore, this is climate chaos," continued Ms Figueres. "We are literally holding the pen of history in our hands and it’s time to wake up!”

To register to watch the event online you can visit www.tbmacaulaylecture.co.uk.