As the COP27 deadline passes, the UN chief urges negotiators to work towards ‘maximum ambition’ in terms of losses and damages |
COP27 President, Sameh Shoukry, told delegates reunited at the plenary session of the Sharm el-Sheik International Convention Center: “I remain concerned about a number of emerging issues, including financial mitigation. , adaptation, loss and damage and their interrelationships.
Mr Shoukry urged the parties to “urgently” work together to resolve outstanding issues as quickly as possible, adding that he hoped to wrap up the conference on Saturday.
Early Friday morning, in an effort to advance the negotiations, the UN Secretary General António Guterres met privately with members of the European Union and Group of 77 and China – which includes mostly developing countries.
The UN chief also met with China’s Special Envoy for Climate, Xie Zhenhua, and continued “in-depth consultations” with a number of parties.
“As the negotiations are about to end, the Secretary-General calls on the parties to aim for maximum ambition in terms of loss, damage and emission reduction,” Mr. Guterres said in a release note in Sharm el-Sheikh by his spokesman.
The girl scolded the delegate
“Are there any other delegations that want to make a statement?” Chairman Shoukry requested the so-called inventory plenary meeting, where progress updates were held daily.
The Ghanaian delegation asked to speak and passed the microphone to 10-year-old Nakeeyat Dramani Sam.
Then the young activist started berating the delegates for seemingly not taking the climate disaster seriously: they would have acted faster to end global warming if, at her age, she declared.
“If you were all young people like me, wouldn’t you agree to do what is necessary to save our planet? Should youth take over? Maybe only the youth corps should attend the next COP,” she said, to a standing ovation from all the delegates present.
Mrs. Dramani Sam calls for adults “have a heart” and “do math”, refers to the science that indicates the severity of future climate change.
“I really hope that COP27 will act for us. I’m sure no one wants to betray us,” she said.
The children’s activist also asked countries to dig deep into their pockets and provide funds to those most suffering.
“Some communities in my country are paying a heavy price since our planet was burned by some people. This begs a simple question…When can you return our money? Because the payment is past due,” she said.
The text as it stands now…
The latest draft decision text is available published overnight on Thursday.
The document reaffirms the 1.5C target to limit global warming and welcomes the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
It also calls for “deep, rapid emissions cuts” as well as accelerating the clean energy transition in the 2020s.
The text also upholds the language of COP26 on “grading coal power” and calls on the Parties to “rationalize fossil fuel subsidies” and urges new national climate action plans.NDCs) in 2023.
The draft outcome welcomes the loss and damage program item, but it does not mention the creation or a funding base.
Also on Friday, the European Union presented a formal proposal for the creation of a loss and damage fund, raising hopes for what some delegations from developing countries say could be could be a “breakthrough”.
‘COP stands on a cliff’: NGOs
Meanwhile, civil society’s reaction to the latest draft text and the slow progress of negotiations have been evident in press conferences and small protests across the country. COP27 takes place.
“COP27 is really on the verge of a cliff,” Catherine Abreu, from the NGO Destination Zero, told journalists.
For her, this COP has the opportunity to set a precedent by setting loss and damage progress as well as a fair transition to renewable energy and away from fossil fuels.
“The president of Egypt and the other countries involved in these negotiations have a choice. Do we walk out of this COP and say we have something tangible to take home to our community? … Or do we leave this COP with empty promises just like we left most COPs over the past three decades,” she added.
With that in mind, she then strongly urged a commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees by accelerating the phasing out of all fossil fuels and addressing harm. is affecting communities around the world.
Chiara Martinelly, Director of the Climate Action Network, addressing the issue of loss and damage, said that “the money is there”.
“It is good to hear suggestions from the UN Secretary-General, to explore solutions for innovative funding sources,” she said, referring to the UN chief’s plan. opening speech where he said fossil fuel companies could be taxed to pay countries for the damage that climate change is causing around the world.
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