The Last Three Days of COP27: Science, Future Generations and Decarbonisation
Flavia Gouveia
As the first week of COP27 comes to an end, we take a look back at the highlights of the last 3 days of events. Following the inaugural speeches by Global leaders, the remaining days have been themed.
Each theme seeks to focus on a key area of climate action. Read on to find out more about the themes covered so far.
Thursday 10 November – Science and Youth & Future Generations Day
Scientists Warn about Limits of Adaptation
A report issued a stark warning of the limits of adaptation to the inevitable impacts of climate change, which include increasingly frequent and severe droughts, storms and floods.
The report called ‘10 New Insights in Climate Science’ was produced by the international networks Future Earth, The Earth League and World Climate Research Programme. It presented key insights from the latest climate change related research of the last year.
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said “adaptation alone cannot keep up with the impacts of climate change, which are already worse than predicted”.
This report’s findings reinforce the need for loss and damage funding, which has been a key topic of discussion and negotiation so far.
‘Our futures are being stolen!’ Youth activists tell COP27 it is time to tackle ‘loss and damage’
Youth activists took over the halls of COP27 on Thursday to demand that negotiators address the issue of loss and damage. They called on the fossil fuel industries and historic polluters to settle what they are calling ‘an ecological debt’.
“There are climate catastrophes and destruction, and my country ends up borrowing money from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to deal with the repercussions… Our countries cannot develop because of the costs of the climate crisis,” a young African activist said during one of the any protests that took place at the Tonino Lamborghini International Conference Centre.
“Our futures are being stolen from us! This is an injustice!” he declared.
Currently, developing countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and a number of African nations, are having to spend considerable amounts to recover from climate-induced disasters. This financial burden is disproportionately placed on the nations which already face other economic challenges and which historically have not contributed large emissions.
UN Secretary General - Guterres – thanks Younger Generations for their efforts
In a tweet he said, “I am grateful for their persistence & courage – and I am proud to stand with them”.
Friday 11 November – Decarbonisation Day
Biden apologies for US withdrawal of Paris agreement and promises that the US will meet emission reduction targets by 2030
Speaking at COP27, President Joe Biden apologised for the United States pulling out of the historic Paris climate accord. His predecessor, Donald Trump had withdrawn the agreement but Biden swiftly reversed the decision within hours of taking office.
He told the COP27 Conference that his administration was "putting our money where our mouth is.”
During his speech, Biden claimed the US is a global leader after it passed laws to tackle climate change. He said:
"Today, thanks to the actions we have taken, I can stand here as president of the United States of America and say with confidence the US will meet our emissions targets by 2030.”
The US is still the world's biggest oil producer and biggest historical polluter. The average American emits far more carbon dioxide than citizens of any other major economy.
It is also one of many countries falling short on cutting emissions and meeting its climate financing commitments. Decisive action on both fronts is necessary from the US, if it is to be seen as a global climate leader.
Fossil fuel delegation bigger than combined delegations of the most climate impacted countries
The campaign group Global Witness has reported a disproportionately large fossil fuel delegation, which threatens to undermine decarbonisation day.
The group found that more than 600 people at the talks in Egypt were linked to fossil fuels. It reported that this was more people than the combined delegations from the 10 most climate-impacted countries.
Speaking to the BBC, Rachel Rose Jackson, from Corporate Accountability said "COP27 looks like a fossil fuel industry trade show.
We're on a carousel of madness here rather than climate action. The fossil fuel industry, their agenda, it's deadly. Their motivation is profit and greed. They're not serious about climate action. They never have been and they never will."
50% chance that 1.5C threshold will soon be crossed
On Friday a report warned that CO2 emissions are rising so quickly that there is a 50% chance the world will soon cross the crucial temperature threshold of 1.5C.
The report serves as a reminder of the urgency and need for decisive action, as the tipping point is fast approaching.
Saturday 12 November – Adaptation and Agriculture Day
Activists demand reparations
Hundreds of activists marched on the UN Climate Change Conference in the Egyptian town of Sharm El-Sheikh on Saturday, demanding reparations for damage caused by climate change in poor regions.
This follows reports by Greenpeace that several developed countries, including the US and Britain, are blocking progress at COP27 on creating a loss and damage facility.
In what was seen as a significant step, COP27 delegates agreed last week to place the issue of loss and damage funding on the agenda for the first time. Developing countries have long campaigned for the creation of a funding mechanism which addresses climate-induced harms in poor countries.
With the increased frequency of extreme weather events, this funding is become increasingly urgent.
Nutrition-Climate Initiative Launched at COP27
World Health Organisation in conjunction with COP27 presidency, Egypt, have launched the Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN), which aims to integrate climate change adaptation, nutrition and sustainable food systems.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation said:
“The relationship between nutrition and climate change is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity... We must implement the Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition for a healthier, safer and greener future for our children and grandchildren.”
Globally, 30% of all people are facing nutrition deficiencies; 828 million people are undernourished, and 676 million are obese.
Vulnerable groups are disproportionately impacted, and climate change exacerbates these impacts by threatening global crops. However, food systems also contribute to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2, methane and nitrous oxides) and through land degradation.
The initiative hopes to introduces solutions which addresses nutrition deficiencies without exacerbating the emissions contributions from food systems.
Stay tuned for more updates.
Flavia Gouveia is the Environment and Science Editor and is studying for a Masters in Journalism at Ulster University.