What is COP27, and why is it so important?

Science has warned, if global warming is not reversed the effects will be catastrophic. That is why every year representatives of hundreds of countries meet to pressure and accelerate the actions that will prevent our extinction.

COP27 represents a unique opportunity to agree on more ambitious and radical measures to stop the climate crisis that daily puts nature and people at risk.

What is the COP?

The Conference of the Parties or COP ( Conference Of Parties for its acronym in English ) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an event that brings together the most important negotiating bodies on climate change in the world.

The first world climate conference dates back to 1979, in Geneva (Switzerland), but it was not until 16 years later that the first COP took place in Berlin, in 1995.

Since then, every year the COP is held where the Parties speak, negotiate and jointly agree on binding decisions to reverse the problem of climate change. This year the COP27 will be held from November 7 to 18, 2022 in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.

Why is COP27 so important?

It is an alarming and crucial moment in the fight against climate change. Only last year, the IPCC report predicted that if action is not taken immediately, it will not be possible to avoid the increase in global warming and the consequences for the human species, and the rest of the life that inhabits the planet, will be devastating.

And this year things do not seem to be very different, since once again the IPPC report reveals the urgency of taking action in the face of climate change that generates dangerous disturbances in nature and affects the lives of billions of people around the world.

The world is 1.1°C warmer than in pre-industrial times and the planet is hotter than it has been in the last 125,000 years to save life on Earth, it is essential that global temperatures remain below of 1.5 °C.

This was revealed by the IPCC special report on Global Warming at 1.5 °C. This document ensures that the goal must be more ambitious at 2 °C, since otherwise, we would be putting the lives of all coral reefs at risk and with 1.5 °C we would be able to save, perhaps, 35% of these.

What happened at COP26?

The 26th Conference of the Parties took place in Glasgow, Scotland, last year, and ended with countries reaching the Glasgow Climate Pact. This included a commitment to “phase out” coal power without slowing down and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. The Paris rulebook was also finalized at COP26, paving the way for carbon emissions trading under what is known as Article 6.

One of the main disappointments for developing countries at COP26 was the lack of progress on a financial mechanism that would accelerate financial assistance from developed countries to combat the permanent and irreversible damage caused by climate change. While the Glasgow Climate Pact recognized the need to address this loss and damage, the conference ended without a concrete measure for a process that would provide financial support.

What is the program of Cop27?

The conference program will feature events taking place in two zones. In the Blue Zone, most policy-related meetings and talks from world leaders and government officials will take place. The Green Zone will host events involving private sector organizations, civil society and NGOs, artists and fashion designers.

Cop26, which took place last year in Glasgow, Scotland, culminated in the Glasgow Pact which was signed by all participating parties and involved commitments related to carbon emissions.

An agreement was also signed between 141 leaders to mitigate forest loss. Similar deals are expected to be signed at Cop27.

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