As the United Nations Climate Change Conference nears its end, Mission breaks down some of the main talking points.
In the face of looming climate disaster, pessimists may be inclined to switch off: apathy is understandable, but we need to be more engaged now than ever. As COP27 – the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference – continues with its second week of talks, there has been some positive news regarding the climate. However, in terms of the conference itself, the main topics are still a source of contention.
COP27 has received its share of criticism, from a focus on host country Egypt’s human rights record and the imprisoned pro-democracy activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, to the increased number of fossil fuel delegates in attendance. Climate psychologist, campaigner, and writer, Jessica Kleczka, took to Instagram to say: “A lot of the positive-sounding stories coming from COP involve a lot of coulds, shoulds and wants… Some of the pledges, alliances and statements are quite significant, at least symbolically. But I was disappointed about the lack of concrete plans at this ‘COP of implementation.’”
Here are some of the main takeaways from this year’s talks:
DISAGREEMENT OVER LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND
Perhaps the central topic at COP27 is that of “loss and damage,” whereby developing nations are demanding compensation from the richest countries – the largest contributors to climate change – for the billions of dollars in damage already caused by extreme weather events. They argue that developing nations are the most vulnerable to climate change despite their carbon emissions generally paling compared to the world’s largest economies. It is still unclear what the solution will be, with disagreement over whether China and India are liable along with Western nations due to their high emissions. According to Reuters, some pledges have been made of a few hundred million dollars by countries including the U.S., Germany, and Austria. However, there is a reluctance to be legally liable for the hundreds of billions needed.
1.5C TARGET UNDER THREAT
The 1.5C target is an agreement to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius, first outlined at 2015’s COP21 in Paris. The Glasgow climate pact included an agreement by all countries to keep to this target via cutting greenhouse gases. It was a figure proposed by scientists to prevent the worst of climate change disasters. A year later, it appears that most countries are not close to achieving this goal, and now there are worries about backsliding on this target. However, some sources say that we have already missed the 1.5C window and that it would be more beneficial for COP27 to acknowledge this. Even Alok Sharma, who presided over last year’s COP26 in Glasgow, warns that this could be the COP where the pledge is lost.
FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY GAINS ATTENTION
The island nation of Tuvalu called for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty at the conference, making it the second nation to do so after Vanuatu at the UN general assembly in September. The proposed treaty would outline rules on fossil fuel usage and manage a transition to clean energy. The initiative’s founder, Tzeporah Berman, said at COP27: “For 30 years, we have been making emissions reduction targets, but the fossil fuel industry has been continuously expanding production. We are trying to reduce the demand for fossil fuels without reducing the supply, which is like trying to cut with one-half of the scissors.”
GOOD NEWS FOR FORESTS
A partnership focussing on forest preservation has been launched after a decade of talks between Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo – who happen to be the largest rainforest nations in the world, accounting for 52% of Earth’s remaining tropical rainforests. The alliance was signed in Indonesia ahead of the G20 talks occurring parallel to the second week of COP27. Another positive update regarding forest protection was the announcement of a partnership that aims to hold countries accountable to a pledge to end deforestation by 2030. It was a promise made in Glasgow last year, and now this partnership seeks to track its progress. The Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership consists of 26 countries and has billions of dollars of financing.
The significance of global leaders meeting to tackle climate change is not something to be downplayed. However, for tangible progress to happen, there must be more than pledges which end up unfulfilled or well-meaning alliances that don’t follow through. It remains to be seen whether promising initiatives will turn into successes or end up as bureaucratic greenwashing.
Images courtesy of Unsplash and Openverse
