COP27 Outcomes – Is The World on The Edge of Climate Catastrophe?
The COP27 climate summit has come to a close, leaving attendees staggered following few of the most controversial outcomes to date.
The latest round of negotiations at COP27 began with optimism over financing climate change policies for Global South nations, yet countries in the Global North have failed to match this enthusiasm. Now, in the wake of one of the most controversial COP outcomes since the conference’s origin, what’s changed for the future of climate change?
Loss and damage remains a sticking point
After three decades of pressure from countries most affected by climate disaster and climate justice advocates, the hotly debated topic of ‘loss and damage’, funding for countries most vulnerable to climate disaster, has entered the official COP agenda for the first time. Within the first week of negotiations, Germany promised €170 million, Austria €50 million, and Belgium €2.5 million toward a new ‘loss and damage fund’, while Canada and New Zealand have pledged USD 18 million and USD 12 million respectively.
Emissions-affected developed countries strongly pushed for a new financing facility by COP29 to fulfil these commitments, but the UK and the US intended to drag negotiations for another two years. A heated disagreement between the two sides ensued, leading to the summit being extended into the weekend. By Sunday, delegates had successfully approved a “Loss and Damage” fund, although leaving out the critical decision to phase out fossil fuels in the agreement.
Spotlight on Africa’s climate
With Egypt hosting this year's annual summit, more attention has been paid to Africa’s readiness to tackle climate change. The continent is already one of the worst affected by rising global temperatures, despite contributing only 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the continent will need an estimated $28 trillion in funding from now until 2030 in order to meet Paris Agreement targets.
Egypt has strongly warned other nations against backsliding on pledges made at COP26 last year, emphasising the need for developed nations to remember their historic responsibility in accumulating wealth at the cost of the environment. Positive promises made include UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s confirmation of a provision of £200 million to the African Development Bank. Additionally, US President Joe Biden announced over $150 million to accelerate the region’s climate change preparedness.
Bilateral action between the UAE and Egypt has also led to a deal to develop one of the world's largest wind farms, although the plan currently lacks a specified timeframe.
The background geopolitics of major powers
● COP27 has seen notable absences from the world’s biggest CO2 emitters – China, India
and Russia. While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducts his re-election campaign within his home state of Gujarat, the country is pushing for its most expansive domestic coal production plan to date.
● Chinese President Xi Jinping was also not in attendance. Positive news came from his meeting with Joe Biden in Bali on Monday, however, with both sides finally resuming talks over limiting emissions that had come to a halt in August following a clash over Taiwan.
● On Tuesday morning, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his absence, commenting ‘the single biggest difference’ is for ‘Russia to get out of Ukraine and end this barbaric war’, a war that has fuelled a food crisis in Europe and Asia.
● Following his pivotal election victory, Brazil’s incoming President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Egypt for the final few days of COP27, vowing to aim for zero deforestation in the Amazon.
A magnifier on Egypt’s relationship with social justice
Reports of state scrutiny and government harassment have cast a shadow over conference proceedings, with attendees reporting overly-costly accommodation, difficulty in obtaining security permits, and fear of political suppression. Other complaints include poor treatment towards youth activists, late-night disturbances, and surveillance in high-level discussions. Special Rapporteurs from the Human Rights Council have raised this issue to the Egyptian authorities and the UNFCCC Secretariat.
The attendance of fossil fuel lobbyists at crucial climate talks have also provoked backlash from younger climate advocates amidst the attendance of over 600 coal, oil and gas representatives.
This year’s COP27 summit has been a mixed concoction of hope and frustration. Initial optimism has been overshadowed by problems with social justice, major power politics, and general inertia in commitment. Despite an agreement being reached to fund poorer nations, negotiators avoided decisive statements to phase out fossil fuels. As world leaders turn to next month’s UN summit on biodiversity, the struggle continues.