I’m sure many readers’ phones pinged with picture messages from friends last week as Scotland’s skies were graced by the magnificent Northern Lights – a spectacle that, usually, can only be seen in Arctic regions.

It was neatly timed, as I prepared to speak in a Holyrood debate on Scotland’s growing Arctic connections and considered how close we actually are to the Arctic, as the world’s most northerly non-Arctic nation.

Shetland actually sits on the same latitude as parts of Greenland and Alaska.

It’s human nature to conjure up a mental map when considering our links with the wider world. We may consider other UK nations, while Brexit and our place in Europe has long occupied our thoughts together with America, Russia and China.

Yet to our north Iceland, Greenland and the vast North Atlantic corridor sweeps across to Norway, Sweden and Finland in the east, USA and Canada in the west.

Considering we sit on the periphery, the Arctic certainly merits more of our attention and, as a good global citizen, Scotland is pro-actively fostering greater economic and cultural links with the Arctic and playing our part in addressing the very real climate and nature loss it faces.

The SNP Government has pursued ever closer links with our Arctic neighbours for years, seeking out opportunities to collaborate on joint ventures and sharing expertise in areas of mutual interest.

As a result, there is growing international recognition that Scotland is home to innovation, research, learning, technology and the development of solutions that can benefit the entire Arctic region.

Tackling the climate emergency is the single most important element in Scotland’s Arctic partnership.

Our work in pioneering the clean energies of the future will help to preserve the Arctic environment and slow or reverse accelerating loss of ice cover.

Beyond this, we have real expertise in areas like marine spatial planning, allowing us to maximise the renewable energy potential of our waters in an environmentally and economically sustainable way.

Scotland’s universities are increasingly engaged with Arctic partners. Nine Scottish universities are members of UArctic, an international research network, more than Sweden or any other non-Arctic nation, with the exception of China.

The Arctic is blessed with natural scenic beauty. With that comes the challenge of managing the growing numbers of people keen to visit environmentally fragile landscapes.

Scotland’s practical experience in balancing a desire to grow tourism, protect our natural environment and generate sustainable economic growth are therefore of great value to our Arctic neighbours.

Scotland’s new ‘Islands Passport’ initiative encourages tourists to visit more of Scotland’s 96 inhabited islands and is proving to be of real interest to our Arctic friends.

With Russia being the largest Arctic nation, international security cooperation is also a key issue.

Scotland has long been home to big ideas.

Sharing them and participating in global networks and partnerships that stimulate increased economic, educational and environmental investment and employment with Arctic nations presents new opportunities for Scotland to make a positive contribution and enhance our own prosperity.