Some events at November's Cop26 climate change summit will be held at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: AFP
Some events at November's Cop26 climate change summit will be held at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: AFP
Some events at November's Cop26 climate change summit will be held at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: AFP
Some events at November's Cop26 climate change summit will be held at the SEC Armadillo in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: AFP

Cop26: Venues for Glasgow summit have some of the city's worst energy efficiency ratings


Nicky Harley
  • English
  • Arabic

Two venues set to host many of the events at the Cop26 climate change summit in Glasgow in November have received some of the worst energy efficiency ratings in the city.

The SEC Armadillo and SEC Centre have received the second-lowest possible grade.

Inspectors have given the venues an energy performance certificate rating of F. The lowest grade is G, with A being the best.

The SEC Centre's owners were told nine years ago to invest in carbon neutral technologies, while authorities at the SEC Armadillo have been advised to introduce new insulation and lighting to reduce the venue's carbon footprint.

Renewable energy sources have not been installed at either site.

The UK government chose the venues, and Glasgow Science Centre, to host the climate summit, which will be attended by leaders from around the world.

Greenpeace told The Scotsman it would be the first climate summit where the rooms themselves would be “one of the elephants in the room”.

It is understood all three venues produce 6,659 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

UN guidance for host countries says energy-efficient buildings should be used or energy-reduction measures should be in place.

SEC said all the electricity used at its venues since last February came from renewable sources and that the company was reducing energy and water waste.

“We continuously work to make our buildings more energy efficient and are committed to improving our environmental performance,” a spokesman for SEC told The Scotsman.

“We acknowledge that events can have a substantial impact on the natural and built environment and we are in the advanced stages of developing a sustainability and energy strategy.

“This will consider opportunities to make our venue more sustainable and to identify environmental improvements, innovations and best practices together with a coherent plan for implementation.”

On Sunday, the UK’s Cop26 chief Alok Sharma said the world faced a “climate catastrophe”.

He gave the warning as he planned face-to-face meetings in China, which has committed to climate neutrality by 2060.

This week more than 200 health journals published editorials calling on world leaders to take urgent action on climate change.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed

Based: Muscat

Launch year: 2018

Number of employees: 40

Sector: Online food delivery

Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception 

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Updated: September 06, 2021, 12:59 PM