UN climate change summit begins in Egypt as COP27 warns of 'climate chaos'. Our planet is "sending a distress signal," according to the warning that was issued.
Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, was speaking on Sunday in response to research that stated the past eight years are on track to be the warmest on record.
At the COP27 meeting, which will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, more than 120 heads of state and government are anticipated to attend. This will mark the beginning of two weeks of discussions amongst governments about the best ways to combat climate change.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who was in charge of COP27, advised the leaders of the world that the food and energy crises precipitated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine should not deter them from taking action on climate change.
“„It is inherent on us all in Sharm el-Sheikh to demonstrate our recognition of the magnitude of the challenges we face and our steadfast resolve to overcome it.- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry
The World Meteorological Organization of the UN made it apparent that action needed to be taken in its most recent report.
The State of the Global Climatic Report 2022, according to Mr. Guterres' video message to the conference, is a "chronicle of climate chaos."
In it, experts stated that the last eight years are on course to be the warmest on record and that since pre-industrial times, the average global temperature has increased by 1.15°C.
The research also forewarned of additional far-reaching repercussions of climate change, including accelerated sea level rise, unprecedented glacier mass loss, and record-breaking heatwaves.
A white flag carrying the COP27 logo hanging on a white pole Mr. Guterres stated that COP27 must be the venue for swift and reliable climate action in light of these results.
The real COP27 will begin on Monday. The World Leaders' Summit will feature five-minute statements by heads of state and government outlining their objectives for the meeting.
The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is likely to advise other world leaders to transition to renewable energy "further and faster."
Additionally, he will caution the leaders against breaking their commitments made at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow the previous year.
The world's leaders will speak on Monday and Tuesday, and when they leave, the conference participants will begin bargaining.
A number of commitments were made at the Glasgow summit last year, including the "phase down" of the use of coal, one of the dirtiest fossil fuels, the cessation of deforestation by 2030, and the reduction of methane emissions by 30% by that same year.
Developing nations, which are most affected by climate change, want to keep the money that has previously been committed to them.
However, they also want to discuss "loss and damage" finance, which refers to funding for current damages brought on by climate change rather than only funding for preparation for future events. The topic is now officially on the COP27 agenda after much discussion.
Numerous activities, such as exhibitions, workshops, and cultural performances by young people, business organizations, indigenous societies, academics, artists, and fashion communities from across the world will take place throughout the two-week period. It is likely that protests, which are typically a dynamic component of COP meetings, will be calmer than usual.
Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has implemented a significant crackdown on dissent since taking office in 2014. According to rights organizations, there may have been 60,000 political prisoners in the nation, many of whom were detained without charge.
According to Mr. Shoukry, Sharm el-Sheikh would have a location for protests. However, Egyptian activists told the BBC that several regional organizations were unable to register for the conference.