A Scottish MEP who will be in Copenhagen for the climate change talks has criticised the UK government for denying Scotland a full role.
The Scottish government is hoping its action to tackle climate change will influence global leaders at the forthcoming Copenhagen talks.
SNP MEP Alyn Smith said the turnout of about 8,000 people at Glasgow's climate change protest on Saturday demonstrated the strength of feeling in Scotland.
The comments from SNP Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson came despite being excluded from the UK delegation.
He said that given Scotland's position on climate change, it was "outrageous" its government was not being included.
The UN climate talks get under way in the Danish capital on Monday.
A UK government spokesman said it negotiates for the whole of the UK.
The UK government said it would negotiate for the UK as a whole, but Mr Stevenson said he had been working with Westminster ministers on the issue.
The UN climate change talks are due to get under way in the Danish capital on Sunday, and will run until 18 December.
The climate change talks come after the Scottish Parliament passed legislation for a 42% cut in emissions by 2020.
Mr Smith, who took part in Saturday's climate protest, said: "The great turnout showed the strength of feeling among Scots - and lends further credibility to the case for the Scottish government to play a full part in next week's talks.
We're hoping to engage other governments and I think a lot of people are listening up Stewart StevensonScottish Climate Change Minister
Given Scotland's world-leading framework for tackling climate change, it is outrageous that the UK ministers have sidelined the Scottish government Alyn SmithSNP MEP
Mr Stevenson told BBC Scotland's Politics Show he expected a "political deal" to come out of the conference, while arguing Scotland was setting an example for the rest of the world to follow.
"Given Scotland's world-leading framework for tackling climate change, it is outrageous that the UK ministers have sidelined the Scottish government from the Copenhagen conference. Even at this late stage, they must reconsider.
"We want to see a legally-binding framework that will ensure the whole world follows the lead that we've taken," he said, adding: "If we don't do that, we will suffer in the long term.
"Around the world, countries are beginning to listen. Having led the way thus far, Scotland simply must not be silenced by London Labour."
"We're hoping to engage other governments and I think a lot of people are listening up, a lot of people are saying, 'Scotland can do it, so can we'."
The SNP government has passed ambitious legislation to cut emissions by 42% by 2020.
Ambitious action
Ahead of the talks, Mr Smith sent a briefing paper on Scottish government action to tackle climate change to all MEPs and European missions in Brussels.
SNP MEP Alyn Smith, who attended Glasgow's climate change protest on Saturday, said the turnout of about 8,000 people helped back the case for the Scottish government to have a seat with the UK delegation.
'United message'
The UK government said a clear and consistent message was needed, while pointing out it had made an offer to the Scottish government to send an official for the UK delegation, although the the invite did not extend to ministers.
A UK government spokesman said: "The UK government negotiates for the whole of the UK. It is our view that it is important that the UK presents a consistent approach and a clear and united message."
Mr Stevenson will be in Copenhagen to stage the Scottish government's Low Carbon Mission, on December 14, where he will press the case for early and ambitious action on climate change.
He added that an offer had been made to the Scottish government to send an official for the UK delegation, however the invite did not extend to ministers.
He also said he had been working closely with the UK delegation and had met Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband twice in the last month.
Meanwhile, Scotland's Climate Change Minister Stewart Stevenson is to take part in a separate climate change event in Copenhagen.
The Scottish government event will be attended by Ian Marchant, chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy, and Mary Robinson, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Low Carbon Mission on 14 December will focus on Scotland's own climate change framework.
Mr Stevenson said he hoped Scotland's presence in Copenhagen could "inspire other nations" to take similar action.
The event will also be attended by Ian Marchant, chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy, and Mary Robinson, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Mr Stevenson said: "It is only right and proper that Scotland should be setting out our ambitions on the world stage given that our legislation is the most comprehensive anywhere in the world.
"The eyes of the world are now on Copenhagen in the hope of an agreement for real action on climate change being achieved."
