As the world continues to grapple with the effects of climate change, the annual Conferences of parties have become hallmark events for discussing the global response to this pressing issue. Yet, year after year, we see a familiar script play out, with lofty promises and empty commitments failing to adequately address the root cause of the menace. Was this year’s summit some different or it was another entry to the long list of unresponsive attempts at solving the issue? Let’s find out.
In this blog post, we will discuss COP27 in detail.
Did you know that as per UNEP estimates, climate change adoption will cost $500 billion by 2050?
What is Climate Change and Why it is a Serious Concern?
We have already highlighted this issue in many blog posts. Let’s recall some of the concepts to have a clear understanding of the issue in discussion.
Climate change can be defined as the change in global climatic patterns owing to many causes both natural and anthropogenic. Greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon emissions are considered the main culprits for the issue, which act as a blanket around the planet to trap outgoing radiations, thereby increasing the global temperature.
Since, the industrial revolution, an average of 1.1 degrees Celsius, which might not seem a lot but it has already wreaked havoc on the planet in the form of devastating droughts, intense rainfall, heatwaves, sea-level rise, flooding, and the list goes on.
We have observed that over the years, climate change has wreaked havoc in different areas.
Around 29 climate change-related disasters were recorded in 2022, including floods in Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, and Australia, droughts in East Africa and Kenya, and heatwaves in Europe and India to mention a few.
in Pakistan, Floods due to climate change in 2022 affected 33 million people, claimed more than 1500 lives, and resulted in a $40 billion financial loss, serve as an excellent illustration of the harm that climate-related risk may do.
As a result, climate change is declared an existential threat to humanity on the globe. Therefore, environmental agencies and governments around the world gather to hold conferences to mitigate climate change.
In this regard, 27 Conferences of Parties (COP) have been held to address the issue. The following section will shed light on the latest conference i.e., COP27.
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Why was the Conference of Parties (COP 27) held?
It is estimated that since 1991, more than 189 million people in developing countries have been affected by extreme weather events mostly triggered by climate change.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted that Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing, global temperatures keep rising and our planet is fast approaching tipping points that will make climate chaos irreversible.
COP27 was held to take action towards achieving the world collective goals as agreed in the Paris agreement, and another previous conference of parties. In addition to discussing achievements and setbacks, COP27 was held to address novel environmental concerns i.e., climate adaption, climate-disaster rehabilitation and recovery, and so on.
The following section will discuss the main areas of focus of this conference.
Main Areas of Focus
The conference focused on the following three broad areas, i.e.,
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
- Assisting countries to prepare
- Deal with climate change, securing technical support and funding for developing countries for climate activities.
Key Takeaways From COP 27?
The most noteworthy and also most debated outcome of this summit is the “Loss and damage fund”, we will come to this topic in a bit.
The summit advanced the work on climate change mitigation. A mitigation work program was launched, which is planned to kick start after the summit and continue until 2026. Additionally, by the end of 2023, the summit urged states to review and improve the 2030 objectives in their national climate plans.
A new five-year plan was launched during the summit to promote climate technologies in developing countries.
While other announcements of the summit include a package of 25 new collaborative actions (in five key areas including power, steel, hydrogen, road transport, and agriculture), a $3.1 billion plan for early warning systems within the next 5 years, the launch of the Global Shield against climate risks, and funds for Global Environment facility funds.
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Loss and Damage Fund
Loss and damage refer to the negative consequences of climate-related disasters such as heatwaves, flooding, desertification, acidification of oceans, sea levels rising, wildfires, extinction of species, etc.
Climate-related loss and damage were one of the major topics of debate at the COP27 summit. After much discussion, the panel reached an agreement, i.e., loss and damage fund.
The agreement on the Loss and damage fund is hailed as the main achievement of the summit. The idea has been opposed for years by some of the major carbon-emitting nations such as the USA and European Nations.
To further this initiative, a transitional committee with members from 24 nations will present recommendations for countries to adapt at the COP28 summit in November 2023. The first meeting of this committee is expected in March 2023.
Guterres urged that COP27 must agree on a “clear and time-bound roadmap” for loss and damage. Moreover, he highlighted the need for effective institutional arrangements for financing.
Selamawit Wubet, an adviser to a group of countries prone to climate change informed Reuters that “the one thing we wanted a lot for ages, and that being solved at a COP being hosted by a developing country, that in itself is a great win because it shows their diplomatic strength.”
in the conference, different countries pledged funds for LDF, such as:
- Belgium ($2.5 million)
- Austria ($52 million over four years)
- New Zealand ($12 million until 2025)
- Denmark ($13.7 million)
- Ireland ($10.4 million)
- Scotland ($2.2 million)
- Canada ($5.25 million)
It is a good sign that funds are pouring in, but compared to the damage caused by climate-related events, they are insufficient. It is hoped that other countries especially the USA and UK contribute to the program and make it successful.
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Whether COP27 Was a Success or Failure? What Do Experts Have to Say About this Summit?
COP27 didn’t deliver what was expected from it. Many specialists around the world have labeled it the worst COP ever and declared it a FAILURE.
Did you know that more than 600 fossil fuel lobbyists were at the summit?
The COP27 meeting yielded mixed results. The most notable agreement reached at the conference is the “Loss and damage fund” for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters, which will provide finance for the recovery and rebuilding of poor countries that are struck hard by climate-related disasters.
Unfortunately, the conference failed to preserve the commitment to limit a global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Moreover, it also failed to strengthen the pledge to reduce fossil fuel consumption.
The agreement failed to secure commitments to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, which are considered the biggest culprit to the disaster. Some experts highlighted that holding COPs in a major fossil fuel supplier and consumer like Egypt is counterproductive.
Others have criticized these conferences and declared they a waste of resources and time.
Building around these arguments, specialists around the world fear that this agreement will face the same fate as agreements have faced in the past.
Time Urges Urgent Action
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated in his response to the Fund that “the fund is an important step towards justice.” It is too soon to say whether or not the action will be effective; only time will tell.
Loss and damage fund is undoubtedly a praiseworthy step. It is viewed as a hope and opportunity for developing countries to respond to climate change consequences and build climate resilience.
However, specific strategies and guidelines on the fund’s quantification, assessment, attribution, monitoring, and evaluation should be developed and closely followed to ensure that this proposal won’t fail to materialize as the prior commitments did.
It is hoped that this initiative will disburse funds quickly without having to go through a cumbersome process. COP27 must help in climate change adaptation in true meaning. It must serve as a step towards climate justice.
Who Should Be Allowed To Host Such Summits?
UNFCCC serves as a social networking platform for governments to highlight environmental issues and set climate goals. Each year host country is allowed to hold a critical event that mobilizes civil society and media coverage.
The decision of the hosting nation is the topic that is most fiercely debated. Many experts have criticized UNFCCC for choosing to offer to hold the summit in Egypt, a major consumer and supplier of fossil fuels.
We at Sustainoverse believe that countries that have a low ecological footprint should be allowed to act as role models. The host should be selected based on their action against climate change.
Conclusion
27 conferences of parties have been held since 1995, but none of them had any formal binding agreements on cutting fossil fuel burning.
To achieve substantial outcomes, the agreements must be made binding and strict deadlines must be set up and achieved.
It is equally important to remember that we should not wait for others to take action rather we should step up and be the change that we want to see in others.
Although, mitigating climate change might be a collective effort but small individual efforts are more effective, be that turning off a light when leaving the room or saving water.
Every action counts, remember we are in this together and we will only be victorious if we play our role proactively.
FAQs
Where was COP-27 held?
COP27 was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from 6 to 20 November 2022.
How many countries participated in COP27?
More than 200 countries from all around the world participated in the conference. In total, COP27 attracted more than 45,000 participants to share ideas and solutions, and build partnerships.
When will the COP-28 be held?
COP28 will take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in the United Arab Emirates.