Moving to Action at COP27

Today, November 17th, is ‘Solutions Day’ at COP27 and a draft document has been published that will form the basis of the final negotiations taking place during the last day of the Conference – although it is understood that it is likely to change significantly before it is finalised, with some sources even hinting that the Conference may overrun in order to achieve this.

Initial reactions to the document have been mixed. António Guterres, UN Secretary General returned to Egypt from the G20 summit in Bali, saying:

“I have returned to #COP27 to appeal to all negotiating to deliver the ambitious & meaningful #ClimateAction we so desperately need. This is no time for finger pointing. The blame game is a recipe for mutually assured destruction. But #COP27 can make a difference here & now. COP27 is scheduled to close in 24 hours – and negotiators remain divided on a number of significant issues. I urge them to act – and act quickly. The world is watching and has a simple message: stand and deliver.”

“World leaders descended on this venue [last week] and expressed unequivocal support to the global efforts to tackle climate change – this political will needs to find its way fully to the negotiating rooms. While some of the discussions [have been] constructive and positive, others did not reflect the need to move collectively to address the gravity and urgency of the climate crisis.”

“The mitigation work programme [to speed up emissions cuts] is yet to reach the desired outcome. Adaptation is still held back by procedural matters. Ambitious outcomes on finance have not yet materialised. And on loss and damage, parties are shying away from taking the difficult political decisions.”

“I reiterate what was highlighted by President al-Sisi at the opening ceremony: the world has become a stage for a continuously running show of human misery and pain. This needs to end now, not tomorrow. I urge all [countries] to go the extra mile, take the necessary steps to reach the much-needed conclusions and agreements. The world is waiting for us to demonstrate the seriousness by which we tackle this matter, and as a community of nations we must live up to their expectations.”

You can read some of the different perspectives on this first draft agreement in the media:

The Guardian

euronews.green

Reuters

Sky News

We’ll bring you more news on this as soon as we have it.

Negotiating at COP

In this video, Ulfath Ibrahim, Assistant Director at the Special Envoy Office for Climate Change of the Maldives, shares her thoughts on the negotiations at COP; specifically relating to the issue of ‘Loss and Damage’. She also gives her perspective on the COP process itself, as well as her hopes for what happens next.

Please feel free to add comments and share links to other perspectives that you have found.