Cop-27 at Egypt: An overview

Building on the outcome and momentum of COP-26 in Glasgow, nations were expected to demonstrate at COP-27 that they are in a new era of implementation by turning their commitments under the Paris Agreement into action. In this article we will look at the progress made in the summit.

The COP-27 was held from 6th to 18th November 2022 at Sharm- El-Sheikh, Egypt. The COP-27 Presidency has launched the Sharm –El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda to help 4 billion people adapt to climate change by 2030. The agenda puts key human needs at the core agenda along with concrete, specific action on the ground. World leaders, heads of the states, and governments of 196 countries, including leaders of 56 Commonwealth nations, would be discussing action to tackle climate change at the COP-27 climate summit now being held in Egypt. It would follow a year of climate-related disasters and broken temperature records.

This year’s climate conference (COP)-27 has drawn global attention to three major global issues. They were Climate changes, biodiversity, and just transition- long-term challenges that will prevail long beyond the geopolitical tensions, inflation, and energy crisis- in 2022. Leaders at COP-27 would look at climate change as fostering geopolitical stability because climate change impacts have worsened in 2022 and COP-27. Reports from various Climate Research Organizations have established beyond doubt that the window for climate action has been closing rapidly. Stakeholders would rise to tackle the global challenge of climate change effectively.

At COP-27, countries come to take action toward achieving the world’s collective climate goals as agreed upon under Paris Agreement. In this regard, attention might be drawn to the topics discussed in COP-26. They were:-

(a) To secure global net CO2 to Zero by mid-century and to keep the temperature at 1.5 degrees;

(b) To adapt to protect communities and natural habitats;

(c) To mobilize finance of $100 billion yearly (Commitments are made but not implemented as seen) for poor and emerging economies.

(d) To work together to deliver positive results in reducing CO2 and temperature.

The Egyptian foreign minister chooses to be the President at COP-27. One hundred ninety-seven nations have been attending the summit. The President would be the arbitrator to smooth the differences among the nations. Many nations attending the summit point their finger toward China, accusing her of being the greatest emitter of CO2.

No matter how many challenges China faces, she is firmly determined to achieve Zero CO2 carbon neutrality, said a Chinese Climate Envoy. The COP is the decision-making body responsible for monitoring and reviewing the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It brings together 197 nations and territories—called Parties signed on to the Framework Convention. COP-27 would watch Five (5) key issues: Nature, Food, Water, Industry de-carbonization, and Climate adaptation.

Human folly has created global climate change. As a result, heavy prices had to be paid. For example, one-third of Pakistan had been under flood, Europe’s hottest summer in 500 years, the Philippines hammered, the whole of Cuba in a blackout, and within the US, hurricane Lan delivered a brutal reminder that no country and no economy is immune from the perils of climate change. The UN Secretary-General recently spoke to the New York journalists on COP-27. He says, “It comes as the most recent scientific evidence that shows that the planet’s warming is accelerating. “It’s already almost certain that 2022 will rank among the 10 warmest years on record, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This year’s climate summit would be a key milestone for multi-stakeholder nations and partnerships across the five issues. As an “all of Africa” COP, the Egyptian COP-27 Presidency has defined the summit’s 4 key goals:

Mitigation: All parties, especially those in a position to “lead by example,” are urged to take “bold and immediate actions” and reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming well below 2.0 centigrade;

Adaptation: To ensure that COP-27 makes the “crucially needed progress” towards enhancing climate change resilience and assisting the world’s most vulnerable communities;

Finance: To make significant progress on climate finance, including delivering the promised $100 billion per year to assist developing countries.

Collaboration: As the UN negotiations are consensus-based, reaching an agreement would require “inclusive and active participation.”

COP-27 is a moment of truth for the international community. However, we are yet to accept what’s systematic transformation means. We look at the financing of the COP to other nations ignoring our differences. That’s what the Paris Agreement is really about. Combating the devastating effects of climate change requires mobilizing governments, corporations, finance, and civil society. At COP-27, public and private sector leaders have united in Sharm-El-Sheikh to seek solutions. Climate action is an ongoing process, not an event, requiring extraordinary collaboration.

Egypt hosted this year’s UN Climate Conference (COP-27) at Sharm-El- Sheikh. Like many organizations, Egypt worked hard to make the conference as impactful as possible. At COP-27, the parties called on the government to strengthen their commitment to public engagement. Their work at the conference focused on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), loss and damage, and climate justice. ACE relates to Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, which covers six priority areas:-education, training, public awareness, public participation, access to information, and international cooperation on climate change.

Let this write-up be concluded by quoting the Egyptian President who opined on COP-27 that “we trust the world will come together, yet again, to reaffirm its commitment to the global climate agenda despite the difficulties and uncertainties prevailing now. I am positive all partners and stakeholders will be coming to Sharm- El- Sheikh with a strong will and a higher ambition on mitigation, adaptation, and climate change finance, demonstrating actual success stories on implementing commitment and fulfilling pledges.”

The writer is former Director General, Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). He can be contacted at [email protected]