COP 26 Preserving Pasts | Imagining Futures

For the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, Glasgow (COP26), the Galleries and National Library of Scotland invited visitors to respond to collection works to visualise how Scotland has been and will continue to be impacted by the climate and ecological emergency.

The eyes of the world turned to Scotland. We asked you to get creative and share your vision of a changing Scotland. Take a look at our examples in this blog. 

Imagine the landscapes changing over time to protect our soils, grasslands, flora and fauna - what will it look like to you?

Fife is popular with tourists for its scenic, historic fishing villages, but is also home to industry, and rich agricultural land. Here, Falkland Palace is reimagined in a ‘warmer’ setting.

How will coastal communities adapt to sea level rise, and what will these landscapes look like in the future?

Many coastal settlements are at risk from inundation both from sea level rise and more extreme weather events which can cause further coastal damage, so transport links which are crucial for the community such as the airfield will be affected. 

How will the city look in future years, with greener spaces, more active travel and less pollution?

As the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a hub for people visiting nationally and internationally. Transport accounts for 35.6% of Scotland’s emissions (2018 data); from daily travel, aviation, maritime, as well as heavy goods. See here how the centre has changed in 100 years.