While the Christmas countdown seems to get earlier and earlier, this year there has been a countdown of different sorts. While the days get colder and shorter, the international conference that many are calling the last chance to save our planet from disaster has been drawing ever closer.

You might think that this is hyperbole, but the Copenhagen Climate Summit in December really is key to our planet's future. It is a chance for world leaders to stand united and with one voice declare that climate change is a clear and present danger to humanity.

And if negotiations go well, it could prove to be an early Christmas present for Scotland.

Back in the early 1990s, the Kyoto Protocol started the ball rolling on international agreements on climate change, but then quickly lost momentum. The problem with Kyoto was that in omitting the world's largest CO2 producer in the United States and the soon to be world's largest producer of CO2 in China, the agreement lacked the authority to back up its intent.

This cannot be allowed to happen in Copenhagen.

Whatever happens, we must come away from Denmark with more than a souvenir group photo and a multitude of warm words.

This time round, under President Obama's leadership, the US are listening to, and acting on, environmental concerns. Copenhagen has the chance to succeed where Kyoto failed. That is an opportunity that cannot be missed.

If Europe is to play its part in combating climate change, then Scotland must be at the forefront of those efforts.

Sadly the SNP and Labour have spent most of the run-up to the summit bickering about who gets to sit at the top table. This is an all too familiar problem. While they engage in a political arm wrestle others are concentrating on the job in hand - creating the jobs and investment in renewable energy that will see Scotland out of recession.

The constant playground arguments between Labour and the SNP do a disservice to Scotland. It is not good enough both for our economy and for our environment.

Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon is going to the Summit to make sure that Scotland's voice is heard and we get the investment we need to deliver our renewable energy future.

Scotland has the potential to be Europe's renewable energy powerhouse. It is estimated that 25% of Europe's renewable energy capacity could be generated in Scotland through our wind and tidal reserves.

The EU has already shown a massive vote of confidence in Scotland's renewable energy industry by investing £100 million in renewables projects.

Liberal Democrats want more investment like this to come to Scotland. It is needed if we are to use the drive towards a more renewable future to Scotland's advantage.

Please get in touch and share your ideas on how we can make this happen.

With your help, George Lyon will be able to report back to you in the New Year about a successful Copenhagen summit, for Scotland and for our climate.

Please use this form to share your ideas on how Scotland can lead Europe in the fight against climate change

You can sign the petition to help bring more renewable energy investment to Scotland here