A tense United Nations (UN) summit ended on Sunday with a landmark agreement on funding to help vulnerable countries tackle climate change – and anger over a lack of commitment to reducing emissions.
The two-week talks held in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, which at times seemed to be on the verge of collapse, gave a major boost to the “waste and climate damage” fund.
Pakistan’s Climate Minister Sherry Rehman said COP27 had “answered the voice of the vulnerable”.
“We have been struggling for 30 years on this road, and today in Sharm el-Sheikh the journey has reached its first stage,” he said at the meeting.
Weary delegates applauded as the package was received as the Sun arrived on Sunday following nearly two more days of round-the-clock negotiations.
But the joy of that victory was tempered by strong warnings.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said the talks “took an important step towards justice” and the fund for losses and damages, but failed to encourage the reduction of emissions needed to combat global warming.
“Our country is still in an emergency room,” Guterres said. “We need to reduce emissions significantly now and this is an issue that the COP has not addressed.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also warned that “much needs to be done”, while French President Emmanuel Macron planned another meeting in Paris ahead of the COP28 in Dubai to agree a “new economic deal” for countries at risk.
‘Made of stones and emitters’
The final COP27 statement on efforts to combat global warming was in line with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
It also included language on renewable energy for the first time, while reiterating previous calls to accelerate “efforts to reduce fossil fuels and the phase-out of fossil fuels”.
But this did not go much further than a similar proposal at last year’s COP26 conference in Glasgow on the main issues of reducing the damage caused by global warming.
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said the EU was “disappointed”, adding that more than 80 countries had agreed to a stricter emissions pledge.
“What we have in front of us … does not bring enough effort from emitters to increase and reduce their emissions,” said Timmermans, who 24 hours earlier threatened to withdraw from the talks.
Britain’s Alok Sharma, who chaired the COP26 in Glasgow, said the energy sector “weakened, at the last minute”.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she was disappointed that the reduction in emissions and the withdrawal of fossil fuels “were stonewalled by many oil producers and oil producers”.
After being criticized by other delegates for the lack of transparency in the talks, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, the COP27 chairman, said that any mistakes were “clearly not intentional”, and that he had tried to avoid a “backsliding” of the parties.
‘Lost and damaged’
The agreement on damages and damages increased significantly during the negotiations.
The developing countries were forced to ask for the fund, and they finally managed to get the support of the rich polluters who had long feared that they would.
A statement from the Alliance of Small Island States, made up of islands whose existence is threatened by rising sea levels, said the loss and damage was “historic”.
“The agreements reached at COP27 are a global success,” said Molwyn Joseph, of Antigua and Barbuda and chair of AOSIS.
“We have shown those who feel neglected that we hear you, we see you, and we give you the respect and care you deserve.”
With a warming of around 1.2 degrees Celsius to date, the world has seen an increase in climate-driven warming, highlighting the problems that developing countries face with increasing disasters, as well as energy and food problems and growing debt.
The fund will support developing countries “most vulnerable to climate change” – language requested by the European Union (EU).
‘on the edge’
The Europeans also wanted to expand the financial support to finance – the codes of China and other developing countries.
The lost and damaged final word left many difficult questions to be answered by the transition committee, which will report to next year’s climate conference in Dubai to make the money work.
The fund will focus on what can be done here to help with loss and damage, but the agreement will not provide loans or compensation, a US State Department spokeswoman said.
Scientists say limiting temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius is the safest way to protect against climate change, while the world is currently on track to reach 2.5 degrees Celsius according to its commitments and plans.
“The past results in the loss and damage of COP27 show that international cooperation is possible,” said Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and Chair of The Elders.
“Similarly, the new commitment to a warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius was a source of relief. However, none of this changes the fact that the world is on the brink of climate change.”
© Agence France-Presse
