COP27: Here are the top agenda items for the climate conference
The U.N. climate conference taking place in Egypt until Nov. 18 has much to discuss, from financing the transition to clean energy to protecting the world鈥檚 forests and future-proofing cities.
Here are some of the most-watched topics on the agenda in the sun-baked resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Fossil fuels and backsliding聽
Countries at last year鈥檚 COP26 talks agreed for the first time to 鈥減hase down鈥� coal production and trim other fossil fuel subsidies. Voluntary side deals also touted plans to curb fossil fuel financing and to limit planet-warming methane emissions, chiefly from the fossil fuel and agriculture industries.
But the energy disruption caused by war in Europe has led several European Union members to reopen or extend coal plants鈥� life and to lock in liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments. Meanwhile, China continues to approve new coal mines, and Vietnam and Indonesia seek to boost coal production.
The backsliding by major economies on their promises to shift from fossil fuels has led some nations, especially in Africa, to call for a formal recognition that they should be allowed to develop their fossil fuel reserves.
The United Arab Emirates, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and host of next year鈥檚 COP28 talks, has said it will be 鈥渁 responsible supplier鈥� of oil and gas for as long as the world needs.
Paying up for the damage聽
As host of聽COP27, Egypt has made the issue of 鈥渓oss and damage,鈥� or compensation for losses from climate-related disasters, a focus.
Following a breakthrough on the weekend as this year鈥檚 summit began, the issue for the first time is part of the U.N. talks鈥� formal agenda.
Wealthy countries have resisted creating a funding mechanism that could suggest liability for historic climate damages, but developing countries are united in demanding that a Loss and Damage fund be established.
The United States and the European Union have shown more openness to having a serious discussion, but remain wary of creating a fund, especially as they face domestic pressure to deal with economic weakness and a cost of living crisis caused by high energy prices.
Adapting to a warmer world聽
High-income countries have yet to meet their pledge to deliver $100 billion a year in climate finance. Only $80 billion per year was delivered in 2019. Nevertheless, the talks will address boosting that annual goal upward from $100 billion from 2025.
To date, about a quarter of that financing has gone to projects for adapting communities for a warmer world.
Low-income and climate-vulnerable countries want to ensure that the share spent on adaptation is doubled by 2025 鈥� a pledge made at last year鈥檚 U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland.
That鈥檚 still shy of what experts say is needed: a report by the U.N. Trade and Development office estimates adaptation costs in developing countries will total $300 billion in 2030.
鈥楩undamental reform鈥� of development banks?聽
High-level voices have called for an overhaul of international financial institutions. At the annual World Bank meetings last month, the U.S. and Germany called for 鈥渁 fundamental reform鈥� of the bank to respond to challenges including climate change on a global scale, rather than country by country.
Some reformers are asking for more grants and concessional loans that would prevent lower- and middle-income countries from having to pay high interest rates.
U.S. Special Envoy John Kerry said in a speech last month that reforms would be crucial to 鈥渁ddress the crisis of this moment,鈥� and that there were proposals that could 鈥渦nlock several hundred billion dollars in additional MDB [multinational development bank] lending capacity without requiring new shareholder capital鈥� and without risking credit rating downgrades.
Keeping 1.5 alive
At COP26, countries promised to 鈥渞evisit and strengthen鈥� their national climate plans, called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, by the end of this year to ensure they are aligned with the Paris Agreement goal of preventing warming beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.
But last month鈥檚 U.N. 鈥渟ynthesis report鈥� on NDCs submitted this year show that only 24 countries out of 194 have updated their plans.
There may be some new momentum in Egypt. Australia鈥檚 new government strengthened its pledge to cut emissions 43% by 2030, a significant improvement from its 2015 target of 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2030. Chile, Mexico, Turkey, and Vietnam are also expected to announce new plans.
Meanwhile, Brazil鈥檚 election of Luis In谩cio 鈥淟ula鈥� da Silva as president on Sunday bolsters global efforts to end deforestation.
This story was reported by Reuters.聽
