In a few days, Egypt will play host to climate negotiations that will be led by the United Nations. World leaders will gather for negotiations on climate change in the heart of the continent that is suffering from the severe impacts of climate change, which is where desertification, water shortages, and drought are increasing. The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) is important for getting climate justice and reducing the size of changes and losses that can’t be turned back. This is especially important in light of the fact that climate impacts are increasing while inequality is growing. Where poor countries pay the emissions bill for rich countries
What is the COP?
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties. Each year, countries gather in a new country to discuss plans and policies for tackling climate change.
This year, from November 6-18, COP27 will be hosted in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, in the north-east of the of Africa (so COP27 is known as the “African COP”), and it is expected that this year’s summit will concentrate on problems of funding, adaptation, and loss and damage that were inadequately addressed at COP26 in Glasgow.
What does Greenpeace do at COPs?
Greenpeace sends representatives to the COP, including policy and scientific experts, campaigners, and those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, to observe and make sure that politicians are listening.
We also support and work with grassroots groups and representatives whom decisions made at COP27 will most immediately and directly affect. Despite being the least responsible, these community representatives are the most exposed to the climate crisis.
Why is COP 27 important to MENA residents?
The UNFCCC COP was last in the MENA region in 2016, when COP22 took place in Marrakech, Morocco. This year’s conference is very important to us as MENA countries. There are some big issues that need to be discussed at this year’s UN climate summit, like loss and damage finance, to bring justice to the most affected countries.
According to a study published by Regional Environmental Change, the MENA area is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the detrimental effects of climate change. The area is already impacted by excessive heat and water scarcity.
With a global warming of 4 ° C, average summer temperatures may climb by up to 8 ° C. Water flow might drop by 75%, and land aridity could increase by more than 60% in several areas of the region.
The rain-fed agricultural productivity and lives of impoverished farmers are especially susceptible to the negative effects of climate change. Reduced yields and greater reliance on food imports may harm everyone, but urban inhabitants are more susceptible to rising food costs, while impoverished farmers in rural regions are especially susceptible to hunger and malnutrition as a direct result of yield losses. The area is marked by strong disparities, and the poor will bear the brunt of the effects of climate change on water and land resources, health, and energy systems. About 25 million people are undernourished in the MENA area, including four million in Northern Africa (2.7% of the population) and 21 million in Western Asia (10 percent of the total population).
As a result of the fact that Arab nations, particularly war-torn countries, need to make up for their losses and damage caused to them by climate change and adapt to it as quickly as possible, a COP27 is essential for all of the people living in our Arab area!
Three main points and our demands regarding COP27
There are three big issues that need a decision at this year’s UN climate summit.
- Loss and damage: refers to the damaging effects of climate change that cannot be prevented by mitigation, which is avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, or adaptation, which means adjusting to the effects of climate change.
We demand that governments in the Global North and historic emitters establish and fund a loss and damage finance facility, with funding coming from climate polluters such as international oil companies.
- Adaptation finance: financing for actions that help poor affected communities reduce the risks they face and the damage they may face from climate risks such as storms or droughts.
We demand from historic polluters’ governments to adhere to and expand upon past pledges made for climate finance for adaptation and mitigation, as well as knowledge and technology transfer, based on scientific recommendations, and make sure these adhere to alternative development pathways (for example, in the form of grants instead of loans).
- Fair energy transition: transformation of the global energy industry from fossil fuels to effective policies that promote the biomass resources and increased use of renewable energy.
We demand that all world leaders immediately phase out the use of fossil fuels by strengthening and implementing climate commitments.
We also demand from all MENA governments to draft and implement high quality adaptation strategies and implementation plans that prioritise the most vulnerable communities. Also draft and adhere to just transition plans and alternative development pathways to the pursuit of sustainable energy sovereignty, social justice, and resilience to climate impacts (to name a few). ,
Why loss and damage?
Loss and damage reflect the fact that climate change already has negative impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, people’s health and their livelihoods. Loss and damage are categorized as economic and non-economic (intangible).
Economic losses and damages are those related to livelihoods and property; damage to infrastructure; disruption of economic activities and livelihoods; a decrease in agricultural and fisheries production; and a decrease in the provision of goods and services.
Non-economic losses and damages are those associated with mortality, mobility and mental wellbeing losses, human identity, knowledge and ways of knowing, mental and emotional wellbeing, and social fabric.
Why is action on loss and damage needed for climate justice?
Poor countries and marginalized communities, who have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, pay the highest price for climate change.
Where they bear the severe impacts of climate-related extremes on food security, nutrition, and livelihoods, those countries are facing the brunt of its effects and urgently need financing to restore and rebuild their homes and livelihoods.
That’s why financing loss and damage is an integral part of climate justice, which is not just finding solutions to the climate crisis but creating a more just and equal world.
Therefore, climate justice cannot be achieved without a fair and equitable financial deal for the Global South. So at COP 27, we must find the creation of a dedicated loss and damage financing facility to help countries vulnerable to climate change deal with the effects of a planet in crisis.