Over the past two weeks, Glasgow has welcomed global leaders and delegates from across the globe to our city as COP26, the most critical climate conference we have ever seen, took place.

At the time of writing this column, the reports from within the conference centre on what the eventual Glasgow Declaration will be were of disappointment at the lack of ambition and the rolling back of targets which had been set in Paris five years ago.

A deal was eventually signed deep into Saturday night, though not everyone was convinced that sense prevailed and that action to tackle the fossil fuel industry, keeping the 1.5 degrees target for controlling global temperature rises alive and crucially that support is in place for those nations and regions, many who have contributed the least to this climate emergency but are already suffering the devastating consequences, will now be a reality.

A Glasgow Agreement rooted in tackling both the environmental and social injustices caused by this climate emergency.

But away from the SEC complex, we know that vital work has been ongoing across the city over the fortnight. It was incredible to join international activists, trade unionists and many of Glasgow’s young people on both the Friday’s for Future march as well as the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice Rally, the latter has been dubbed one of the largest marches Glasgow has ever seen.

The energy and, importantly, the determination I saw, heard and felt on those marches should give us all hope for the future.

It was an incredible show of people from across society, from different walks of life, coming together to tell those in power that they must be bolder, think bigger and listen – and that they must take the action we genuinely need to save our planet and for the climate transition to be a just one, which takes communities and workers with us.

And it is on that, that my focus, and that of my colleagues in the City Chambers, now turns. As delegates, activists and leaders leave our city, with a plan in place that – we all hope – will see real change being made, what does COP26’s legacy look like for Glasgow and our citizens?

There are fantastic examples of cities and regions leading the way on the climate emergency, and we know it is at that level that those lasting and more immediate changes will be made.

Whether it’s on transport, energy, housing or active travel, we must look to the blueprints of cities across the globe on how we too can build a world-leading city leading the way on climate justice – a plan which involves our communities, our workers and our people.