Egypt warns COP27 countries can’t hide behind the economy to stop climate promises

Cairo, October 30 (DPA/EP) –

Egypt, which will host United Nations climate talks next month, has warned participating countries against using “economic pessimism” as an excuse to potentially roll back climate pledges.

“There were fears that the current conditions of countries would deteriorate,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.

“Retreat from the existing hostile political stances…because of the pressures of the general global economic conditions, and thus use extenuating circumstances to justify their retreat…I think this would be very subjective. Defeating the situation.”” Shoukry told dpa .

The United Nations Climate Summit, known as COP27, will take place in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, on the Red Sea, from 6-18 November in the context of the war in Ukraine that has driven up food and energy prices. The conference also comes after the disparate climate-related events that have caused havoc in some parts of the world.

Representatives from nearly 200 countries will discuss how to contain global warming and how climate damage can be financed. The host promoted COP27 as a working summit.

“We see COP27 as the COP27 of implementation where states and parties will highlight their commitment to implement their past commitments and lay the foundation for the future in terms of additional commitments that address the challenges,” Sukari said.

For him, success depends on the determination and political will of the parties involved, as well as the understanding that rich and poor nations are affected equally, “no matter what seas separate them.”

The official cited recent devastating floods in Pakistan, heat waves in Europe and hurricanes in the United States as motivating factors for climate stakeholders to take action.

“People are losing their lives,” said Shukri, the designated chief of COP27. “If the international community does not live up to the occasion, they will be responsible for the deterioration of the situation and the continued suffering of a large section of the world’s population.”

Shoukry expressed his hope that the dispute over geopolitical tensions will not be “imported” into the COP process. “There are other places to deal with these issues. And certainly here the focus should be on climate change.”

However, the official sees a “deficit of confidence” due to the breach of previous commitments. In 2009, developed countries pledged $100 billion in financing annually by 2020 for climate protection in poor countries, and the promise has largely been unfulfilled.

Shoukry described the $100 billion figure as “negligible” at the world level and in terms of the capabilities of developed countries, whose budgets sometimes reach trillions of dollars. “It certainly has no real impact on the challenges of climate change,” he concluded.

“It’s a small number that should have been achieved…so their meeting is still important, but we also need to be practical, we need to do more to make it impact.” But how these funds are made available is a matter of collective will, according to Shoukry.

COP27 will also address how global warming can be limited to a temperature increase of 1.5°C, a target set in the 2015 Paris Agreement. In Shukri’s view, the assumption that the target has been out of reach for so long is justified. “If you address the enormity of the problem and its impact, as well as the need for ambition, you can make this assessment,” he said.

“But it doesn’t really help us in the future. If we’re going to assess the shortcomings of the past, I think that shouldn’t stop us from maintaining ambition for the future, or else we’ll find ourselves in a vicious cycle of ineffectiveness.” “

The UN climate talks in Egypt are the first time they have been held in Africa in years, since the COP was held in Morocco in the north of the continent in 2016. The presence of the summit in Egypt raises Africa’s hopes that the world’s wealthy will pump more money Combating climate change, the actor understands.

“There are aspirations and expectations not only from African countries, but shared by the broader community of developing countries linked to their ability to fulfill their responsibilities and obligations in the context of common but differentiated responsibilities,” Shoukry said.

Some human rights groups have expressed concern about potential limitations on the meaningful participation of environmental activists in COP27. But Shoukry stated that his country wants to provide civil society organizations with a “receptive and comfortable” environment. “We have every desire for civil society to be present, and to be given the same rights and privileges (as) in any other COP.”

Egypt, where street protests are being restricted, said activists would be allowed to demonstrate in a designated area next to the conference venue.