COP27: Key Talking Points So Far
Victoria Mitchell
Only three days have elapsed since COP27 got underway on Sunday November 6, but already the conference is making headlines. Over 120 world leaders are currently gathered in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss an agenda addressing gas emissions, deforestation, biodiversity, loss and damage measures, and the provision of climate aid to developing countries. With such an ambitious programme, let’s take a look at the key talking points so far.
“Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish. We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”
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Monday 7 November
“Co-operate or Perish”: Guterres Powerful Opening Speech
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres commenced the conference with a stark warning to world leaders. He told them that either nations work collaboratively to reduce emissions or future generations will be condemned to a climate emergency. He cautioned, “Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish. We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator.”
His statement follows the UN 2022 State Of The Global Climate Report released one day earlier on November 6 which shows that the previous eight years have been “the warmest on record” and that climate aid to developing countries reached only £29 billion of the £340 billion target established for 2030.
Sunak pledges British allegiance to Decarbonisation
“Putin’s abhorrent war in Ukraine and rising energy prices across the world are not a reason to go slow on climate change.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak likewise emphasised the importance of providing international climate aid during his address to delegates. He asserted that Britain has an economic and “moral responsibility” to financially assist developing countries decarbonise. Referring to the war in Ukraine, Sunak said that it provided a greater incentive to invest in renewable energy as fossil fuel prices continue to rise in its wake.
“Putin’s abhorrent war in Ukraine and rising energy prices across the world are not a reason to go slow on climate change,” he said. “They are a reason to act faster because diversifying our energy supplies by investing in renewables is precisely the way to insure ourselves against the risks of energy dependency.”
Featured image courtesy of Element5 Digital on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
Tuesday November 8
“Loss and Damage” Debate
Many of the headlines from Day two of the conference surrounded the “loss and damages” debate. Should Western nations take financial responsibility to avert and minimise the impact of climate change upon developing nations?
A report by Lord Stern, a climate economist, showed that £2 trillion would be required by 2030 for developing nations to counteract greenhouse gas emissions. The report read that: “Rich countries should recognise that it is in their vital self-interest, as well as a matter of justice given the severe impacts caused by their high levels of current and past emissions, to invest in climate action in emerging market and developing countries.”
Indeed, many vulnerable countries are seeking “loss and damage” compensation and have made this demand a priority at the conference. For example, prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, asserted that his nation needs more than £30 billion in flood relief “despite our very low carbon footprints”. His comments form part of a wider discourse in which climate experts challenged US Representative, John Kerry, on “America’s decades-long game plan of denial, delay and deception” when it comes to loss and damage funds.
This conflict regarding Western historical responsibility for climate change looks set to be a central talking point of COP27.
“The Implementation of Cop” via a new climate change plan
President of COP27, Sameh Shoukry, presented a new comprehensive plan outlining measures that nations should implement to adapt to the devastating impact of climate change. It includes 30 actions such as the introduction of climate-resilient agricultural machinery, halving food waste and providing electricity to 647 million citizens.
Shoukry equates the agenda with the purpose of the conference itself, saying it is “a critical step at COP27, the implementation COP”.
Featured image courtesy of Element5 Digital on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
Wednesday 9 November
Cut Air Pollution or People Will Die Warns World Health Organisation
Director of public health and environment at the World Health Organisation, Dr Maria Neira, told delegates today that immediate action must be taken to reduce the increasing mortality rate caused by air pollution. She said that mayors could continue to oversee congested, traffic-filled cities with a high death-rate, or accelerate the transition to green transport systems. “Lives are in their hands” she warned in her speech.
The “loss and damage” debate, response measures to climate change, and international networking procedures have emerged as the key issues at the COP27 conference. These topics will continue to be debated tomorrow with a schedule including “MP Resilience-Accelerating Adaptation and Resilience” and “Collectively Building The Open Climate Network.” Stay tuned for more updates.
Victoria Mitchell is The Scoop’s Science and Environment Deputy Editor, and an MA English Literature student at Queen’s University Belfast.