It’s now less than two months until world leaders and delegates from across the globe descend on Glasgow for COP26, a historic climate conference where the outcome will be make or break for our planet.

But as our city prepares to host the conference, it’s clear that Glasgow and Scotland are not stepping up to the mark when it comes to tackling the climate emergency. For years now, Scottish Labour politicians have been urging the SNP in Holyrood and the City Chambers to think bigger and bolder. Still, sadly despite the rhetoric from those in power, our climate targets are being missed annually. In recent days, youth climate leader Greta Thunberg acknowledged this, when she said she did not consider Scotland to be a world leader on climate change.

In our city, Glaswegians are trying their best to do their bit to help us tackle this climate emergency: by evaluating what kind of packaging they purchase at the supermarket and recycling wherever they can; by leaving the car at home and opting for a bus or a bike where they can make it work; and even stepping up in their communities to help neighbours when recent flash flooding had a devastating impact on local areas. But, unfortunately, they are consistently being held back by the timidity of this SNP administration.

Pushing through significant changes in bin collections amid a pandemic and a waste crisis has left many in communities across Glasgow angry, with workers feeling that no one will listen to their concerns.

Many of the City’s cycle lanes are not fully connected to each other, or to major routes, and there is no incentive for people to jump on the bus as services become more expensive and unreliable.

And as we know, while the increase in extreme rainfall is due to climate change, the blocked gullies make the issue of flooding even worse - and that responsibility is on the council.

And at Holyrood, we’ve seen vital emissions targets missed three years in a row; the promised publicly owned energy company stuck at the business case stage, no honest answer from the Scottish Government on the proposed Cambo oil field and our transport network on a downwards spiral, bus services decimated and rail services declining.

Continually we are seeing SNP politicians in power with no ambition. No willingness to take the action needed to tackle this crisis properly. Any commitment on a just transition plan to bring workers and communities with us on this journey is half-hearted with no depth. The recently announced Green Jobs Workforce Academy is nothing more than a new website. It does nothing to build confidence in those workers whose industries may be at risk as we move towards net zero.

Whilst some may celebrate and claim the new co-operation initiative between the SNP and Greens in Holyrood is a win for prioritising environmental issues. Unfortunately, we know that is far from reality. The SNP/Green deal may now be formalised, but we know it is nothing more than confirming a longstanding coalition of cuts that will prioritise more constitutional grievance over any meaningful efforts to tackle the climate emergency.

In her recent interview, Greta Thunberg indicated that tackling climate change was not as easy as voting for a green party. Meanwhile,  the new Green Ministers take up their ministerial salaries and ministerial cars and have put  their obsession with the constitution ahead of the climate emergency that we should be focused on. Greta couldn’t be any more correct.