COP27 agreed on “historic” deal. But is this really going to make a change?

After long and difficult negotiations, the COP’s 27th conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, ended on Sunday, 20th November in both an epic and a tragic tone. A text meant to provide assistance to poor nations affected by climate change was adopted, but no further action against global warming was taken.  

After more than two weeks of deliberations, the climate conference ended with a day behind its intended schedule, making it one of the longest COP in history. Source: L’Opinion.

Each year, a new COP conference takes place and brings together tens of thousands of people around the recurring issue of climate change. And each year, new promises are being made by governments – but some of which are yet to be fulfilled. 

As the Guardian reported, “some countries said the commitment on limiting temperatures to 1.5C represented no progress on the COP26 conference in Glasgow last year.” 

The Sharm El-Sheikh climate conference recognized however for the first time the need to financially help the most vulnerable countries to cope with the damage caused by global warming.  

The 196 participating countries marked a historic step forward by creating a “loss and damage” fund for climate impact in developing countries.  

 This decision was praised by UN secretary general António Guterres, who urged the 196 countries to take meaningful decisions. 

 He said, “There is clearly a breakdown in trust between North and South, and between developed and emerging economies. 

 This is no time for finger-pointing. The blame game is a recipe for mutually assured destruction.” 

 This decision, which was greeted with loud applause, is the culmination of a request from South countries, for now, dozens of years.  

 “COP27 did what no other COP had done,” said Mohamed Adow, executive director of NGO Power Shift Africa. 

 “Today we are making history. It shows that the UN process can work and that the world can recognize the plight of vulnerable people.” 

 Egyptian foreign minister and president of the climate conference Sameh Shoukry, said: “We worked around the clock, day and night, but united in working for one gain, one higher purpose, one common goal.” 

COP27 President, Egypt foreign affairs minister Sameh Choukri. Source: Reuters.

COP27 might have successfully responded to the symptoms of the climate crisis, but not to its causes. 

The 196 countries taking part in the summit failed to tackle the emergency of fossil fuels.  

Global warming is now more than ever a reality affecting communities around the world, scientists have said.  

For instance, historic floodings that affected Pakistan earlier this year in June killed 1,717 people, leaving another 30 million deprived of their houses or electricity. 

These floods were caused by melting glaciers that resulted in heavier rains than usual. 

People retrieve bamboos from a damaged house following rains and floods in Pakistan, August 2022. Source: Reuters.