Member News: Harper Macleod launches Natural Futures Summit 2026

June 1, 2026
Member News: Harper Macleod launches Natural Futures Summit 2026

Scotland’s natural capital sector supports £40.1bn of economic output and more than 260,000 jobs, accounting for 14.4% of the country’s total output. From land and energy to infrastructure and communities, the way Scotland manages and invests in its natural assets will play a defining role in its future.

This September, Scottish law firm Harper Macleod is bringing together the organisations, decision makers and communities shaping that future with the launch of its first Natural Futures Summit.

Taking place on 15 September 2026 at Eden Court in Inverness, with the option to attend in-person or online, the summit will focus on the opportunities, challenges and solutions driving Scotland’s natural capital and energy transition agenda.

The event is aimed at landowners, renewable energy developers, advisers, policymakers, funders, investors, and infrastructure organisations. It will also support communities seeking to understand how energy and natural capital projects can help deliver long-term local benefit and place-based change. Harper Macleod will provide a forum for discussion on rural land matters,, energy transition and sustainability, drawing on its deep sector expertise and experience of working with complex projects across the whole of Scotland. The summit will explore six key themes shaping the natural capital landscape. These include place and communities, natural capital and carbon credits, grid and utility infrastructure, offshore wind, data centres, and repowering and wind generation.

The Natural Futures Summit forms part of Harper Macleod’s wider commitment to shaping Scotland’s natural capital future by connecting the right organisations with the right opportunities. Through the summit and ongoing thought leadership, the firm aims to provide practical solutions that support sustainable growth for communities, infrastructure and skills.

Chris Kerr, a partner in Harper Macleod’s energy and natural capital team and lead for the Highlands, Islands and Moray, said:

“Scotland’s natural capital is fundamental to its economic, environmental and social future. The Natural Futures Summit is about bringing the right people into the same room to have practical, informed conversations about how Scotland can generate long-term value from natural capital and the energy transition in a way that works for communities, investors and infrastructure alike.

“By sharing legal insight grounded in real projects, we want to help organisations move into action and support sustainable growth across Scotland, helping it towards its net zero goals.”

 

Contact Phil Addicott at Harper Macleod for media registration at [email protected]

Delegates can register at https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1Rf3BVBxqTAidhTaoR-cEhA5i1k8

Learn more about the event at https://www.harpermacleod.co.uk/events/natural-futures-summit/

Get in touch

AREG is the original energy transition organisation, working on behalf of members to empower the energy supply chain and champion its expertise. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to find out more about membership.

AREG has played an important role in the growth of Scotland’s renewable energy sector, engaging the supply chain and developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. However, we are only at the very beginning of the transition that AREG was established to both lead and support so there are still opportunities for companies to get into the constantly evolving renewables supply chain. We look forward to continuing our work together as renewables builds on its place as Scotland’s main source of power, and as we seek to deliver real change in the crucial areas of heat and transport.

Scottish Renewables

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce

The enthusiasm and dedication of the early group that would become AREG was fundamental in us choosing to launch All-Energy in Aberdeen. The first tiny show was held in 2001, and AREG’s Chairman at the time, Jeremy Cresswell, played such an active role that I often describe him in terms such as All-Energy’s ‘midwife’. All-Energy is now the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference in terms of number of attendees, space booked, and number of exhibiting companies. As AREG became firmly established, their presence and support for the event grew spectacularly over the years. We thank them most sincerely for their invaluable input.

All-Energy

Vattenfall has forged a strong working relationship with AREG through the development of the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre. AREG has worked tirelessly on behalf of the North East and it can take enormous credit for the growth of sustainable energy in the region and the path it has cleared for the region to capture further investment.

Vattenfall

Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

Scottish Enterprise