The Essence of UNFCCC COP 27

With the escalating energy crisis, the proliferation of greenhouse gases, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, COP27 is a crucial platform for member countries to renew their commitment to the landmark Paris Agreement , with the aim of protecting both people and the planet.

• COP27 is expected to build upon the results of COP26 and take decisive action on a range of issues critical to addressing the climate crisis. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, fortifying resilience, adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, and delivering on commitments to finance climate action in developing countries.
• The Egyptian Foreign Minister and President have labeled COP27 as an ‘implementation CoP’. This denotes the effective implementation of all provisions of the Paris Agreement and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to keep global temperature rise within manageable limits and mitigate further negative impacts.
• One of the key messages that COP27 must deliver is that securing the world’s future comes with a cost that continues to rise with each passing day, regardless of the prevailing global conditions.
• For the first time in over a decade, the issue of loss and damage – or the provision of funds to support poor countries in dealing with the effects of global warming – has been included on the formal agenda for COP27. This comes after years of rejection by wealthy nations.

Key Takeaways from the Conference:

• The United Nations Secretary-General made a stark declaration: humanity has to come together to cut emissions now, or we risk condemning future generations to a climate disaster.
• He also advocated for a pact between the world's richest and poorest countries to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and to secure funding to ensure that poorer countries can reduce emissions and cope with the impacts of climate change that have already taken place.
• It was underscored that the earth is nearing tipping points that could potentially render the climate crisis irreversible.

COP 27 Agenda

The Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda:

This agenda outlines 30 Adaptation Outcomes with the goal of building resilience for the four billion people who are most vulnerable to climate change by 2030. Each outcome offers a global solution that can be localized to address specific climate risks such as floods, heatwaves , and droughts.

These outcomes collectively present the first comprehensive global plan for both State and non-State actors on a shared set of adaptation actions that need to be adopted by the end of this decade across five impact systems: food and agriculture, water and nature, coastal and oceans, human settlements and infrastructure, and enabling solutions for planning and finance.

Significant Initiatives Announced at COP 27:

• The Proposal for an International Climate Change University:
  • The President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has proposed the establishment of an international climate change university in Sri Lanka, with a subsidiary institution in the Maldives, acknowledging that as island nations, Sri Lanka and the Maldives are highly susceptible to the adverse impacts of climate change.
• The UAE-Egypt Deal:
  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt have agreed to develop one of the world's largest wind farms.
  • Upon completion, the 10 GW onshore wind project in Egypt will produce approximately 47,790 GWh of clean energy annually, offsetting nearly 9% (23.8 million tonnes) of Egypt's current carbon dioxide emissions.

India’s Involvement in COP27:

• The Indian delegation to COP-27 is led by the Environment Minister of India, Shri Bhupender Yadav.
• India will urge developed countries to meet their commitment to providing $100 billion of annual climate finance.
• India will also push for increased transparency and more institutional mechanisms to ensure that these funds are made accessible to developing countries that are most vulnerable to climate change.

For more information, read here: PIB Summary & Analysis for UPSC IAS Exam for 6th Nov 2022: COP 27