Major climate change event set to return to Glasgow
The Congress of Business (COB), a key event from COP26, will be held for the third consecutive year on May 13, 2025.
The event, part of Glasgow Climate Week, will take place at SWG3 and be broadcast online.
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Building on the Glasgow Climate Pacts established at COP26, COB aims to drive meaningful change by turning sustainable strategies into tangible action.
It brings together some of the UK's most influential businesses, leading academics, and policymakers.
The event will take place at SWG3 (Image: Supplied)
The event serves to create a bridge between international UN climate gatherings.
Speakers at the event will include Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, Jennifer Jordan-Saifi MVO, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, and Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, principal and vice chancellor of the University of Glasgow.
Other speakers include Gerard Gallagher, global sustainability leader at Ernst & Young, and Will Attenborough, climate finance strategist and co-founder of Green Rider.
The Congress of Business is supported by the University of Glasgow, Barclays, and E.ON.
It is hosted by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Chambers network.
On top of the main conference, two additional events have been added to the programme.
COB Futures, hosted by DYW Glasgow in partnership with DYW West and DYW LED, hopes to inspire young people to choose careers which will support a sustainable future.
Meanwhile, COB Inspires is focused on students and recent graduates looking to enter the sustainability sector.
It will feature talks, panel discussions, and interactive networking, exploring career opportunities and sustainability challenges.
Alison McRae, senior director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: "Congress of Business is an action-driven global event that reinforces Glasgow's legacy as a COP host city.
"This year, we anticipate welcoming over 500 delegates from around the world to hear from business leaders, academics, and government officials about how we can collectively achieve the growth and innovation opportunities that a sustainable future offers."
Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli said: "Congress of Business captures the collaborative spirit essential for meaningful change, uniting academia, industry, and government to co-create solutions for a sustainable future.
"The University of Glasgow is proud to support the event, reflecting our commitment to driving innovation, building partnerships, and advancing economic growth."
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Chris Norbury, chief executive officer at E.ON UK, said: 'Reaching net-zero requires more than ambition – it demands collaboration, innovation, and a relentless focus on making energy more affordable and sustainable. Glasgow's net-zero determination is so aligned to E.ON's, that our partnership for COB25 made perfect sense.
"This is a city that shares our commitment to innovative solutions and making new energy work for everyone. Together, I am confident we can accelerate progress, inspire change, and build a cleaner, more resilient future for all.'
The Congress of Business is free to attend, with tickets available via the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce website.
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