Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, embarks on five-day visit to the United States

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is undertaking a five-day visit to the United States. She has been invited to give a speech at Stanford University during her trip on Scotland's place in the world. The first minister also has a meeting scheduled with Governor of California Jerry Brown to discuss climate change. This has been welcomed by environmentalists. World Wildlife Fund Scotland director Lang Banks said: "Scotland has shown global leadership on tackling climate change for many years, so it's great to see the first minister continue this by seeking to work with others who share our ambition to stand up for people and nature threatened by global climate change.

"There is much Scotland can share with others about how we have successfully created thousands of jobs from slashing carbon emissions from our power sector through the rapid deployment of renewables."