After dozens of world leaders flocked to the COPcup 27The Egyptian president, to be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, inaugurated the summit, stressing the importance of moving to address the crucial climate crisis, which is the biggest challenge ever faced by the world, and expressing his hope that efforts are made to implement concrete steps in this area.
He stressed that human suffering due to climate change is recurring and confirms the urgency to end it.
He also added in his keynote address that people around the world are waiting for a quick, effective and equitable implementation of reducing emissions and global warming, to reduce climate disasters affecting various regions, causing huge casualties and losses.
Furthermore, he felt that the results of this conference contribute to transforming the lives of millions of people for the better.
“Stop the war”
Al-Sisi also touched on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, calling for the need to stop the war, saying, “Please stop this war,” as cheers rose in the sprawling hall.
He also expressed his willingness to mediate in this area.
global struggles
For his part, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stressed that climate chaos is the main cause of global conflicts. He warned that humanity is fighting a battle for survival in the face of climate change.
He also called for an agreement between advanced, developing and emerging economies for the sake of the environment and for the sake of humanity, especially China and the United States.
In addition, he stressed the importance of moving away from coal as the main source of energy and avoiding severe damage, urging international institutions to change their economic approach and provide financial resources for carbon neutrality.
In turn, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed stressed that the risks of climate change target everyone, without exception. He also stressed that his country continues to collaborate with the international community to address this crisis.
About 110 heads of state and government will speak today and tomorrow, Tuesday, in front of the delegates’ meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh (AFP)
Multiple crises
These interventions are set against the backdrop of multiple interconnected crises around the world, to which are added the Russian military operation in Ukraine, hyperinflation, the risk of recession and the energy crisis with renewed support for fossil energy sources, and the food crisis. , while the world’s population will exceed 8 billion people, which could push the crisis of change.Climate change ranks second on the list of priorities, although its devastating repercussions were evident in 2022, with deadly floods, waves of heat and drought that have devastated crops in many countries, especially in Africa.
However, many developed countries are accused of not doing what they should be doing to combat global warming.
greenhouse gas emissions
Interestingly, greenhouse gas emissions need to decrease by 45% by 2030 to have a chance to meet the more ambitious goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, which plans to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the previous year. ‘was pre-industrial.
But the current pledges of the signatories, although ultimately honored, would lead to a 5-10% increase in emissions, putting the world on an upward trajectory of 2.4 ° C at best by the end of the century.
With policies currently in place, warming is expected to reach 2.8 degrees Celsius, which is disastrous, according to the United Nations.
Only 29 countries
Only 29 countries had submitted plans to COP 2021 to increase their commitments to reduce emissions, even though they had approved a “charter” requiring them to do so.
Any announcements of further emissions cuts will be highly anticipated in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Aid to poor countries
The world is also watching with interest the announcements relating to aid to poor countries, which are usually the countries most vulnerable to the repercussions of global warming, even if their liability is limited as their greenhouse gas emissions are very few.
Interestingly, in a gesture that many activists hope is not just symbolic, COP27 delegates on Sunday decided for the first time to include the issue of financing damage caused by global warming on the conference’s official agenda. This damage is now estimated in the tens of billions and is expected to continue to grow significantly. The recent floods that flooded a third of Pakistan alone caused damage estimated at over 30 billion.
