From Scotland to Egypt. Cop27 in Sharm El Sheikh

From Scotland to Egypt. The 27th edition of the Conference of the Parties, known as COP27, was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, the annual meeting of countries that have ratified the UNFCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). If COP26 in Glasgow ended with the promise of paving the way for an excellent outcome for next year, then the moment has come, but the promised successes have not come. This last meeting, which went on for nearly ten days of talks, discussions, exchanges, hopes for the decisions of the G20 in Bali, displayed all the slowness of the world political system.

The Troubles of the Nations and the Paris Agreement

In the final document – ​​now not without almost explicit rhetoric – we read that the international community recognizes the “increasing urgency to address the harm and damage caused by global warming”, although questions the “harm and damage” anything but clarifies. Is. In fact, the most important issue is the huge gap between the richest countries and the developing countries. While the latter, having greater difficulty responding to the needs of climate change and, above all, the costs of the transition to ecological and sustainable development, have called for the establishment of a common fund, the wealthy proceed with a certain distrust. Promotion of such proposals, various financial instruments. China, therefore, unable to miss the geopolitical opportunity created, has proved to be the originator of the demands of developing countries, fearful of the risk of excessive disintermediation, able to keep up with the United States and Europe. Concern over failure to meet the “$100 billion per year target” for the poorest countries as per the commitments made by the Paris Agreement. The economic effort spent by the richest countries to support the global ecological transaction accounts for 31–32% of what is needed to keep the planet under 2 degrees of warming. The target has been calculated and is theoretically possible. We are short of this target by about $5,600 billion needed for the global ecological transition.

god of wealth before planet

The issue of fossil fuels is also a difficult one. India’s proposal, backed by both Brussels and Washington, to extend the limits on coal production and use laid out in Glasgow, also for oil and gas, has met with a strong response from crude-producing countries, led by Saudi Arabia.

Once again, protecting one’s own economic interest seems to prevail over common sense, becoming the only true rule ever to be respected by everyone in international association. The decarbonization commitments (NDCs, Nationally Determined Contributions) made under the Paris Agreement are far less than what is needed to meet the goals of the global warming accord. If the reduction in emissions is about 5%-10% today, it should be about 30%-45% by 2030 to prevent an uncontrollable increase in temperature.

“Let us never tire of addressing the dramatic urgency of climate change.” Think about the generation».

daniel de camilles