2021 – Key anniversaries and events

2021 – The Year Ahead

2021 - as we wave good riddance to possibly the most tumultuous year in a long time, we've summarised some of the key events and anniversaries coming up in the year ahead, many of which present great opportunities to showcase your rural business and form new partnerships.

2020 was designated Scotland’s Year of Coast & Waters, however, in light of the impact of COVID-19, it has been extended into 2021.  If you're an accommodation provider, visitor attraction, food producer or any business with a strong connection to the lochs, canals and rivers of Scotland, see how to get involved here.

In December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables - an initiative to raise awareness of the nutritional and health benefits of sustainable production and consumption of fruits and vegetables.  It has the secondary aim of highlighting the high levels of food loss and waste in the supply chains with a designated day, International Day of Food Loss and Waste, being observed on 29 September. Find out more on the FAO website.

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, runs from 2021 through 2030, is a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, for the benefit of people and nature. It aims to halt the degradation of ecosystems and restore them to achieve global goals. Only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, counteract climate change, and stop the collapse of biodiversity.  Find out more about the decade here and join in the conversation on social media using  #GenerationRestoration.

2021 has many events that you may wish to make use of in your promotions, blogs and social media channels. (If you need help with managing your digital marketing, let us know).  These include:

• 20 January - Inauguration of Joe Biden as 46th USA president
• March - Expected launch of GB News channel
• 21 March - Census Day England & Wales (Scotland's Census next takes place in 2022)
• 6 May - Local and Scottish elections
• 10 June - HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh's 100th birthday
• 11 June - 11 July - The postponed UEFA EURO 2020 is now scheduled to take place from 11 June to 11 July 2021.  (Scotland's first game is on Monday 14 June playing the Czech Republic at Hampden.  Scotland plays England at Wembley on 18 June.  The final group game for Scotland is against Croatia at Hampden on 22 June.)
• 16 June -  Bicentenary of the birth of golfing pioneer Old Tom Morris
• 15 August - 250th anniversary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott
• 1 - 12 November - The rescheduled UN Climate Change Conference will take place in Glasgow
• 14 December - 125th anniversary of the Glasgow Underground

One name you will hear a lot of during the summer of 2021 is 'Miraitowa' - the name given to the mascot of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games - which is derived from the Japanese words mirai (future) and towa (eternity). This name was chosen to promote a future full of eternal hope in the hearts of people all over the world.

Wishing you a happy and hopeful 2021!