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COP27 explained by experts: what is it and why should I care?

Pro Vice-Chancellor: Climate, Sustainability and Inequality and Director Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, University of the Witwatersrand

Researcher: Climate and Inequality, University of the Witwatersrand

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Imraan Valodia receives funding from a range of international foundations that fund academic research.

Julia Taylor receives funding from the African Climate Foundation.

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COP27 is the 27th Conference of the Parties (countries) that signed up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The convention was established at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, and has been ratified by 198 countries. They agreed to stabilise the production of greenhouse gases in order to prevent dangerous climate change.

Since then, the Conference of the Parties has been hosted in a different country each year. These conferences broadly provide a platform for the negotiation of international climate change treaties.

Read more: COP27: what to expect

The very first treaty acknowledged that the responsibility for action was different for developed and developing countries, because developed countries were responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite some gains, commitment to these treaties has not translated into the action necessary to shift the course of global climate change. The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report states that global average temperatures have already reached 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels and that warming of over 1.5°C is all but inevitable unless drastic action is taken.

Everyone is affected by climate change, but some people and regions are more vulnerable than others. Regions that will experience the most adverse impacts of climate change are West, Central and East Africa, South Asia, Central and South America, Small Island Developing States and the Arctic. Populations living in informal settlements will have the worst of it.

Vulnerability to climate change impacts is driven by socioeconomic, political and environmental factors. African countries have already experienced loss and damage due to climate change. For example, food production, economic output and biodiversity have all declined and more people are at risk of dying due to climate change in African countries.

The COP27 is therefore important because that is where decisions are made about how to respond to climate change.

Read more: 3 things a climate scientist wants world leaders to know ahead of COP27

Climate change treaties

Three international treaties have been adopted on international climate change cooperation. They led to the development of different bodies which all convene under the banner of the COP. COP is where they meet, negotiate and evaluate progress, even though COP technically only refers to the parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The first treaty was the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The second was the Kyoto Protocol, established in 1997. Countries made commitments to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. The Kyoto Protocol was based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. It acknowledged that because of their higher levels of economic development, developed countries could and should take greater responsibility to reduce emissions.

The third and most recent treaty is the 2015 Paris Agreement. It covers climate change mitigation, adaptation and financing and aims to limit the rise in temperatures to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. All signatories need to develop a non-binding plan for climate change mitigation, including reducing emissions. They also have to report on progress.

A key weakness of the Paris Agreement is that it is non-binding. Also, the commitments are self-determined. A recent study found that even if all countries did meet their commitments, it would not be enough to limit warming to below 2°C.

It is important to understand and engage in these processes as the impacts of climate change are increasing globally. The increase in the global average temperature is one of several climate impacts. Others include increased likelihood of droughts or floods, and increased intensity of storms and wildfires.

The frequency of climate events will increase as temperatures rise. There is an urgent need for action to prevent global warming from rising above 2°C. Temperatures over 2°C will result in irreversible climate impacts such as sea level rise, and affect far more people than an increase of 1.5°C.

Responses to climate change

There are three policy areas which have emerged to respond to climate change.

The first is mitigation – the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to stabilise the climate. Examples of mitigation include replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, or developing electrified public transport to replace private vehicles powered by combustion engines.

The second is adaptation – interventions which would support climate resilience and reduce vulnerability. Examples include improved water management and conservation to reduce risk of drought, initiatives to improve food security and support for biodiversity.

The last policy area deals with loss and damage. Loss and damage refers to “the economic and non-economic damages associated with slow onset events and extreme weather events caused by global warming and the tools and institutions that identify and mitigate such risks.” Interventions to address loss and damage can include risk management support and finance which is often framed as climate reparations.

Mitigation and adaptation are well understood and established within climate policy. And they have finance mechanisms within international treaties, even though existing commitments to these mechanisms have not materialised in practice, particularly when it comes to adaptation. Loss and damage, however, has received far less attention in international treaties and negotiations.

Highlighting loss and damage

The Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage was established in 2013 to provide a framework to address loss and damage. It aims to improve understanding of risk management approaches, increase coordination and dialogue among stakeholders and enhance action and support.

The issue of loss and damage was incorporated into the Paris Agreement, but without any specific commitments around it. During negotiations at COP25, the Santiago Network was set up to avert, minimise and address loss and damage for developing countries but it focuses mostly on technical assistance rather than finance. At COP26 (in 2021) there was an agreement to fund the Santiago Network , but the institutional framework is not yet finalised.

Loss and damage was raised as an important issue to be addressed during COP26. There were some promising moves, such as the Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, pledging £2 million towards a loss and damage finance facility. But many rich nations did not support this.

The negotiations led to the proposal to establish the Glasgow Finance Facility for loss and damage. But the wording of the decision was changed at the last minute to the Glasgow Dialogues, which committed to discussing arrangements for funding activities to avert, minimise and address loss and damage. This change has delayed any real financial support for loss and damage in the short term.

This was very disappointing for developing country parties, who will be pushing once more to secure financing for loss and damage at COP27, and holding other countries to account for the US$100 billion annual commitment towards climate finance which has yet to materialise.

Many climate activists from the global south feel that if a financing facility for loss and damage is not discussed at COP27, it will be a failed conference.

• Climate change
• Global warming
• Kyoto Protocol
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• Paris Agreement
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
• Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
• AfricaCOP27

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COP27: What you need to know about this year’s big UN Climate Conference

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This year’s UN Climate Conference takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh, against a backdrop of extreme weather events worldwide, an energy crisis propelled by the war in Ukraine, and scientific data reiterating that the world is not doing enough to tackle carbon emissions and protect the future of our planet.

The Secretary-General has said COP27 must deliver a “down-payment” on climate solutions that match the scale of the problem , so, will leaders deliver?

UN News will keep you informed during the two weeks of the conference officially kicking off on Nov 6th, but before our multimedia team heads for the shore of the Red Sea, we’ve compiled this guide to some of the most important things you need to know.

What’s the story with all these COPS?

The COPs are the biggest and most important annual climate-related conferences on the planet.

In 1992, the UN organised the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in which the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) was adopted and its coordinating agency - what we know now as the UN Climate Change secretariat - was put into place.

In this treaty, nations agreed to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous interference from human activity on the climate system”. So far, 197 different parties have signed it.

Since 1994, when the treaty entered into force, every year the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits or “COPs”, which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’.

During these meetings, nations have negotiated various extensions of the original treaty to establish legally binding limits on emissions, for example, the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, in which all countries of the world agreed to step up efforts to try and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, and boost climate action financing.

This year marks the 27 th annual summit, or COP27.

How is COP27 different from the other COPs?

Last year’s COP26, which marked five years since the signing of the Paris Agreement (one year was skipped because of the COVID pandemic), culminated in the Glasgow Climate Pact , which kept the goal of curbing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius alive, but “with a weak pulse”, as the then UK Presidency declared.

Advancements were made to make the Paris Agreement fully operational, by finalizing the details for its practical implementation, also known as the Paris Rulebook.

At COP26 countries agreed to deliver stronger commitments this year, including updated national plans with more ambitious targets. However, only 24 out of 193 countries have submitted their plans to the UN so far.

Glasgow also saw many pledges made inside and outside the negotiation rooms regarding net-zero commitments, forests protection and climate finance, among many other issues.

According to the Presidential vision statement, COP27 will be about moving from negotiations, and “planning for implementation” for all these promises and pledges made.

Egypt has called for full, timely, inclusive, and at-scale action on the ground.

According to experts, besides reviewing how to implement the Paris Rulebook , the conference will also see negotiations regarding some points that remained inconclusive after Glasgow.

These issues include “loss and damage” financing so that countries at the frontlines of the crisis can deal with the consequences of climate change that go beyond what they can adapt to, and the fulfilment of the promise of $100 billion every year from adaptation finance, from developed nations, to low-income countries.

The negotiations will also include technical discussions, for example, to specify the way in which nations should practically measure their emissions so there’s a level playing field for everyone.

All these discussions will pave the way for the first Global Stocktake at COP28, which in 2023 will assess the global collective progress on mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation of the Paris Agreement.

So, what are the big objectives this time?

1. mitigation: how are countries reducing their emissions.

Climate Change Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases. Mitigation can mean using new technologies and renewable energy sources, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behaviour.

Countries are expected to show how they are planning to implement the Glasgow pact call , to review their climate plans and create a work programme related to mitigation.

This means presenting more ambitious 2030 emissions targets, since UN Climate Change has said that current plans are still not enough to avoid catastrophic warming.

2. Adaptation: how are countries going to adapt and help others do the same?

Climate change is here. Beyond doing everything we can to cut emissions and slow the pace of global warming, countries must also adapt to climate consequences so that they can protect their citizens.

The fallout varies depending on location. It might mean the risk of more fires or floods, droughts, hotter or colder days or sea-level rise.

At COP26, delegates adopted a work programme on the global goal of adaptation established in the Paris Agreement .

The plan was put in place to equip communities and countries with the knowledge and tools to ensure that adaptation actions they take, are indeed moving the world towards a more climate-resilient future.

The COP27 Presidency expects nations to capture and assess their progress toward enhancing resilience and helping the most vulnerable communities. This means countries making more detailed and ambitious commitments in the adaptation components of their national climate plans.

Last year, developed countries agreed to at least double finance for adaptation, and many stakeholders are calling for even greater levels of adaptation funding to match the amounts that are now being spent on mitigation, as established in the Paris Agreement. This will definitely be a big conversation topic at Sharm el-Sheikh.

UNFCCC is clear that to respond to the present and future climate risks it is necessary to significantly increase the scale of adaptation finance, from all sources – public and private sources. All players must come on board – governments, financial institutions, and the private sector.

3. Climate Finance: the elephant that never leaves the negotiation room

Climate finance will be a top theme once again at COP27, many finance-related discussions are already on the agenda, with developing countries making a loud call for developed countries to reassure sufficient and adequate financial support, particularly to the most vulnerable.

We will probably hear a lot about the yearly $100 billion promise by developed nations that isn’t being delivered. In 2009 in Copenhagen, rich countries committed to this financing, but official reports still show that this target is being missed. Experts expect COP27 to actually make this pledge a reality finally, in 2023.

The Egyptian Presidency aims to follow up on this and other commitments and pledges made in previous COPs.

What’s this ‘Loss and Damage’ issue we hear so much about?

Climate change, through extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, desertification and rising sea levels, causes costly damage to countries.

Because the intensification of these otherwise “natural disasters” is being caused by the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from rich industrialised countries, developing countries - often the most affected - argue that they should receive compensation.

Denmark made headlines during the latest high-level week of the UN General Assembly after being the first country to announce that it will give $13 million to developing countries that have suffered damage due to climate change.

The issue of these payments, known as “loss and damage” will be more than likely a big topic of discussion at COP27, even when it hasn’t been put officially on the agenda yet.

The group of the 77 and China (which essentially includes all developing nations) has requested to add it to the agenda, which will require consensus across all countries on the first day of the talks.

To date, there have been discussions around establishing a  Loss and Damage fund , but nothing concrete. Experts such as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate, Ian Fry, are hoping to build further momentum and “get it done”.

“There are major developed countries that are quite concerned about it and looking at this issue from the perspective of what the polluter pays. Now, the countries most affected by climate change and suffering the costs are having to deal with those costs themselves.

“So, it's time the big countries, the major emitters, stood up and said, ‘we've got to do something, we've got to make a contribution to these vulnerable countries’”, he told UN News during a recent interview .

How is the war in Ukraine affecting all this?

According to Ilana Seid, Permanent Representative of Palau to the United Nations, and climate negotiator, this COP is going to be “confusing” given the current sociopolitical landscape and energy crisis.

“The war in Ukraine happened, so there are so many things that so many countries agreed to, and now they can’t do. As a result of the war, the landscape has shifted”, she explained.

Indeed, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a global inflation, energy, food and supply chain crisis. Countries such as Germany have had to scale back on their climate goals in the short term, while the historical China-US Climate Working Group announced in Glasgow has now been suspended.

COP27 will most likely see a setback in the pledges and commitments some countries did last year.

However, Special Rapporteur Ian Fry considers that the war could also be a “wake-up call” for nations to become self-sufficient in energy.

He argues that the cheapest way to do this is through renewables, which are key to reducing emissions.

“We're seeing Portugal moving towards 100 per cent renewable, we know Denmark is also doing that, and I think that will drive other countries to see the need to be renewable and energy self-sufficient”, he told UN News.

Will civil society participate at COP, or just delegates?

The main event will be held at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Centre, from 6-18 November.

So far, there are over 30,000 people registered to attend representing governments, businesses, NGOs, and civil society groups.

The 197 Parties to the UNFCCC treaty, often get in groups or “blocs”, to negotiate together such as the G77 and China, the Africa Group, the Least Developed Countries, the Umbrella Forum, the Small Island Developing States, and the Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The negotiations also include observers, which have no formal part in them but make interventions and help maintain transparency. Observers include United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, faith-based groups, and the press.

But besides the official negotiations, there will be conference rooms, a pavilion section, and thousands of side events happening, divided over thematic days,

This year’s themes are: Finance, Science, Youth & Future Generations, Decarbonization, Adaptation & Agriculture, Gender, Water, Ace & Civil Society, Energy, Biodiversity and Solutions (the newest theme this COP).

As usual, the conference will happen in two zones – The Blue Zone and the Green Zone, which this year are located right across from each other.

The Blue Zone is a UN-managed space where negotiations are hosted and, to enter, all attendees must be credited by the UNFCCC Secretariat. 

This year there will be 156 pavilions inside the Blue Zone, double the amount at Glasgow. Many UN agencies, countries and regions will be represented, and there will also be for the first time a Youth and an Agrifood pavilion.

The Green Zone is managed by the Egyptian Government and open to the registered public. It will include events, exhibitions, workshops and talks to promote dialogue, awareness, education, and commitment on climate action.

According to the Presidency, the Green Zone will be the platform where the business community, youth, civil and indigenous societies, academia, artists and fashion communities from all over the world can express themselves and their voices can be heard.

This year, the Green Zone will also include a special “protest zone”, and a huge outdoor lounge and terrace space.

How can I follow the discussions and events from home?

• Following our dedicated COP27 page
• Subscribing now to our  daily COP27 climate newsletter
• Subscribing to the  Lid is ON COP27 special edition podcast
• Following UN News on Twitter  @UN_News_Centre
• Subscribing to the official COP27 Youtube Channel

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COP27: What you need to know about this year’s big UN Climate Conference

28 October 2022 - This year’s UN Climate Conference takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh, against a backdrop of extreme weather events worldwide, an energy crisis propelled by the war in Ukraine, and scientific data reiterating that the world is not doing enough to tackle carbon emissions and protect the future of our planet.

The Secretary-General has said COP27 must deliver  a “down-payment” on climate solutions that match the scale of the problem , so, will leaders deliver?

UN News will keep you informed during the two weeks of the conference officially kicking off on Nov 6th, but before our multimedia team heads for the shore of the Red Sea, we’ve compiled this guide to some of the most important things you need to know.

What’s the story with all these COPS?

The COPs are the biggest and most important annual climate-related conferences on the planet.

In 1992, the UN organised the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in which the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) was adopted and its coordinating agency - what we know now as the UN Climate Change secretariat - was put into place.

In this treaty, nations agreed to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous interference from human activity on the climate system”. So far,  197 different parties have signed it.

Since 1994, when the treaty entered into force, every year the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits or “COPs”, which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’.

During these meetings, nations have negotiated various extensions of the original treaty to establish legally binding limits on emissions, for example, the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the  Paris Agreement  adopted in 2015, in which all countries of the world agreed to step up efforts to try and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, and boost climate action financing.

This year marks the 27 th  annual summit, or COP27.

How is COP27 different from the other COPs?

Last year’s COP26, which marked five years since the signing of the Paris Agreement (one year was skipped because of the COVID pandemic), culminated in the  Glasgow Climate Pact , which kept the goal of curbing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius alive, but “with a weak pulse”, as the then UK Presidency declared.

Advancements were made to make the Paris Agreement fully operational, by finalizing the details for its practical implementation, also known as the Paris Rulebook.

At COP26 countries agreed to deliver stronger commitments this year, including updated national plans with more ambitious targets.  However, only  23 out of 193 countries  have submitted their plans to the UN so far.

Glasgow also saw many pledges made inside and outside the negotiation rooms regarding net-zero commitments, forests protection and climate finance, among many other issues.

According to the  Presidential vision  statement, COP27 will be about moving from negotiations, and “planning for implementation” for all these promises and pledges made.

Egypt has called for full, timely, inclusive, and at-scale action on the ground.

According to experts, besides reviewing how to implement the  Paris Rulebook , the conference will also see negotiations regarding some points that remained inconclusive after Glasgow.

These issues include “loss and damage” financing so that countries at the frontlines of the crisis can deal with the consequences of climate change that go beyond what they can adapt to, and the fulfilment of the promise of $100 billion every year from adaptation finance, from developed nations, to low-income countries.

The negotiations will also include technical discussions, for example, to specify the way in which nations should practically measure their emissions so there’s a level playing field for everyone.

All these discussions will pave the way for the first  Global Stocktake  at COP28, which in 2023 will assess the global collective progress on mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation of the Paris Agreement.  

So, what are the big objectives this time?  

1. mitigation: how are countries reducing their emissions.

Climate Change Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases. Mitigation can mean using new technologies and renewable energy sources, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behaviour.

Countries are expected to show how they are planning to implement the Glasgow pact call , to review their climate plans and create a work programme related to mitigation.

This means presenting more ambitious 2030 emissions targets, since UN Climate Change has said that current plans  are still not enough  to avoid catastrophic warming.

2. Adaptation: how are countries going to adapt and help others do the same?

Climate change is here. Beyond doing everything we can to cut emissions and slow the pace of global warming, countries must also adapt to climate consequences so that they can protect their citizens.

The fallout varies depending on location. It might mean the risk of more fires or floods, droughts, hotter or colder days or sea-level rise.

At COP26, delegates  adopted a work programme on the global goal of adaptation established in the Paris Agreement .

The plan was put in place to equip communities and countries with the knowledge and tools to ensure that adaptation actions they take, are indeed moving the world towards a more climate-resilient future.

The COP27 Presidency expects nations to capture and assess their progress toward enhancing resilience and helping the most vulnerable communities. This means countries making more detailed and ambitious commitments in the adaptation components of their national climate plans.

Last year, developed countries agreed to at least double finance for adaptation, and many stakeholders are calling for even greater levels of adaptation funding to match the amounts that are now being spent on mitigation, as established in the Paris Agreement. This will definitely be a big conversation topic at Sharm el-Sheikh.

UNFCCC is clear that to respond to the present and future climate risks it is necessary to significantly increase the scale of adaptation finance, from all sources – public and private sources. All players must come on board – governments, financial institutions, and the private sector.

3. Climate Finance: the elephant that never leaves the negotiation room

Climate finance will be a top theme once again at COP27, many finance-related discussions are already on the agenda, with developing countries making a loud call for developed countries to reassure sufficient and adequate financial support, particularly to the most vulnerable.

We will probably hear a lot about the yearly $100 billion promise by developed nations that isn’t being delivered.  In 2009 in Copenhagen, rich countries committed to this financing, but official reports still show that this target is being missed.  Experts expect COP27 to actually make this pledge a reality finally, in 2023.

The Egyptian Presidency aims to follow up on this and other commitments and pledges made in previous COPs.

What’s this ‘Loss and Damage’ issue we hear so much about?

Climate change, through extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, desertification and rising sea levels, causes costly damage to countries.

Because the intensification of these otherwise “natural disasters” is being caused by the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from rich industrialised countries,  developing countries - often the most affected - argue that they should receive compensation.

Denmark  made headlines during the latest high-level week of the UN General Assembly  after being the first country to announce that it will give $13 million to developing countries that have suffered damage due to climate change.

The issue of these payments, known as “loss and damage” will be more than likely a big topic of discussion at COP27, even when it hasn’t been put officially on the agenda yet.

The group of the 77 and China (which essentially includes all developing nations) has requested to add it to the agenda, which will require consensus across all countries on the first day of the talks.

To date, there have been discussions around establishing a  Loss and Damage fund , but nothing concrete. Experts such as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate, Ian Fry, are hoping to build further momentum and “get it done”.

“There are major developed countries that are quite concerned about it and looking at this issue from the perspective of what the polluter pays. Now, the countries most affected by climate change and suffering the costs are having to deal with those costs themselves.

“So, it's time the big countries, the major emitters, stood up and said, ‘we've got to do something, we've got to make a contribution to these vulnerable countries’”, he told UN News  during a recent interview .

How is the war in Ukraine affecting all this?

According to Ilana Seid, Permanent Representative of Palau to the United Nations, and climate negotiator, this COP is going to be “confusing” given the current sociopolitical landscape and energy crisis.

“The war in Ukraine happened, so there are so many things that so many countries agreed to, and now they can’t do. As a result of the war, the landscape has shifted”, she explained.

Indeed, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a global inflation, energy, food and supply chain crisis. Countries such as Germany have had to scale back on their climate goals in the short term, while the historical China-US Climate Working Group announced in Glasgow has now been suspended.

COP27 will most likely see a setback in the pledges and commitments some countries did last year.

However, Special Rapporteur Ian Fry considers that the war could also be a “wake-up call” for nations to become self-sufficient in energy.

He argues that the cheapest way to do this is through renewables, which are key to reducing emissions.

“We're seeing Portugal moving towards 100 per cent renewable, we know Denmark is also doing that, and I think that will drive other countries to see the need to be renewable and energy self-sufficient”,  he told  UN News.

Will civil society participate at COP, or just delegates?

The main event will be held at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Centre, from 6-18 November.

So far, there are over 30,000 people registered to attend representing governments, businesses, NGOs, and civil society groups.

The 197 Parties to the UNFCCC treaty, often get in groups or “blocs”, to negotiate together such as the G77 and China, the Africa Group, the Least Developed Countries, the Umbrella Forum, the Small Island Developing States, and the Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The negotiations also include observers, which have no formal part in them but make interventions and help maintain transparency. Observers include United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, faith-based groups, and the press.

But besides the official negotiations, there will be conference rooms, a pavilion section, and thousands of side events happening, divided over thematic days,

This year’s themes are: Finance, Science, Youth & Future Generations, Decarbonization, Adaptation & Agriculture, Gender, Water, Ace & Civil Society, Energy, Biodiversity and Solutions (the newest theme this COP).

As usual, the conference will happen in two zones – The Blue Zone and the Green Zone, which this year are located right across from each other.

The Blue Zone is a UN-managed space where negotiations are hosted and, to enter, all attendees must be credited by the UNFCCC Secretariat. 

This year there will be 156 pavilions inside the Blue Zone, double the amount at Glasgow. Many UN agencies, countries and regions will be represented, and there will also be for the first time a Youth and an Agrifood pavilion.

The Green Zone is managed by the Egyptian Government and open to the registered public. It will include events, exhibitions, workshops and talks to promote dialogue, awareness, education, and commitment on climate action.

According to the Presidency, the Green Zone will be the platform where the business community, youth, civil and indigenous societies, academia, artists and fashion communities from all over the world can express themselves and their voices can be heard.

This year, the Green Zone will also include a special “protest zone”, and a huge outdoor lounge and terrace space.

Source: UN News

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Pakistan’s Roadmap for COP27: In Search of a Strategic Vision

After devastating floods, Pakistan will make its appeal for long-term aid at COP27. But can they make a convincing case?

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

/ READ TIME: 9 minutes

By: Jumaina Siddiqui

The international community has gathered this week in Egypt for the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP27) and will be discussing a range of issues including loss and damage, climate finance, adaptation and mitigation over the next two weeks. This year’s COP27 is being held in the aftermath of Pakistan’s disastrous summer floods, which led to the announcement that Pakistan’s Prime Minster Shahbaz Sharif will serve as vice-chair of the summit.

This — combined with Pakistan’s presidency of the G77 this year — has afforded Pakistan a significant place on the international stage to make its case for continued support toward post-flood recovery and reconstruction.

However, it remains to be seen how Pakistan will take advantage of this opportunity. Will Pakistani leaders be able to present a coherent and convincing case for further assistance from the international community in both the short- and long-term? Or will the fractured nature of the country’s domestic political landscape overshadow relief and recovery efforts?

The Economic Costs of this Summer’s Floods

While we won’t know the total impact of the 2022 floods for weeks or even months, the human cost is already stark . As of mid-October, 33 million people (one out of every seven Pakistanis) were affected by the floods, with 8 million estimated to have been displaced. The death toll directly caused by the floods was roughly 1,700, one-third of which were children.

And as Pakistan enters the recovery phase, the government estimates that over 9 million people could be pushed into poverty, with 19 of the 25 poorest districts in Pakistan deemed “ calamity-affected .” Add in an estimated $30 billion in damages and economic losses, and the situation in Pakistan appears even more dire.

Pakistan also owes $1 billion in debt obligation payments by the end of the year. The additional economic strain presented by the floods has led to serious concerns that Pakistan will not be able to meet this payment.

No government officials have outright said that Pakistan will default on the debt, and some have offered reassurances the country would meet all its debt obligations. However, Planning Minster Ahsan Iqbal lamented how difficult it will be for Pakistan to meet the conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), especially the bars on government spending , in light of the severe impact the floods have had on the country. Iqbal has stated he hopes that the IMF would revisit these conditions so that greater funds can be put towards relief and recovery efforts.

Political Turmoil is Distracting from Flood Recovery

If the economic crisis wasn’t enough, tensions between the ruling PML-N/PPP government and the PTI opposition are at an all-time high. This political infighting has distracted from the medium- and long-term challenges for recovery and reconstruction, which includes an immediate public health crisis and longer-term food insecurity.

Many parts of the country are experiencing a severe public health crisis, with the World Health Organization noting that Pakistan has seen a sharp rise in malaria as well as diarrheal diseases, a dengue fever outbreak, measles and diphtheria .

Further, malnutrition will also rise due to food insecurity and inflation. The floods wiped out 80 percent of the country’s crops, and perishable food prices are now over 70 percent higher when compared to this time last year. The fallout will be most acutely seen in newborns and infants — if mothers are undernourished, they won’t be able to produce sufficient milk to feed their children and most likely will not be able to afford formula.

It’s imperative that Pakistan capitalize on its unique position at COP27 and provide tangible steps and actions that the government will take to address its “natural security” crisis as international actors weigh aid commitments.

A Call for Climate Justice

Up until now, the rallying cry from the current PML-N/PPP government has focused on climate justice.  However, the narrative has expanded to include debt relief and climate financing. During his trip to the U.N. General Assembly, Prime Minister Sharif made a forceful argument for debt relief as a part of climate justice, stating that “all hell will break loose” if rich nations do not provide Pakistan with debt relief.

On Monday at COP27 , Prime Minster Sharif, standing alongside U.N. Secretary General António Guterres, reiterated the call for debt relief and climate compensation for Pakistan as public debt was “hampering its recovery.” Even Guterres called upon the international community and multilateral lending institutions to reform their polices and allow for debt swaps, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters.

To this end, Pakistan could draw lessons from efforts by Small Island Developing States , who have engaged in discussions about tying debt relief to plans for adaption to climate change and disaster responses.

A “debt-for-climate” swap would entail all or part of a country’s multilateral or bilateral debt to be forgiven — under the condition that the borrowing country will utilize those newly available funds for climate adaptation, mitigation and disaster management. There are examples of debt-for-climate swaps on a smaller scale, such as between the United States and Jamaica for conservation efforts. But there is very little precedent for the scale of swap that Pakistan might pursue. To build traction for a large-scale debt-for-climate swap, Pakistan would need to have a tangible plan with clear benchmarks in place for how these freed-up funds would be utilized in an equitable manner.

Pakistan’s minister for climate change has also stated that climate justice will be the cornerstone of Pakistan’s diplomatic approach for COP27, noting that “Pakistan will seek to put the creation of a Loss and Damage Finance Facility on the agenda.”

This would be a first for the conference. Loss and damage are always integral to discussions based on Article 8 of the Paris Climate Agreement. But Pakistan’s strategy for COP27 would embed loss and damage as part of discussions surrounding Article 6, which deals with climate financing — something that is rarely included at these meetings.

While COP27 is not meant to be a venue to make direct appeals for flood assistance, there is a proposed donors’ conference to raise funds for post-flood aid expected to be held by the end of 2022. With that conference on the horizon, the narrative that Pakistan presents at COP27 — particularly regarding climate financing and loss and damage — will be crucial in laying the groundwork for a comprehensive plan to not just rehabilitate and reconstruct after the floods, but also to build resilience in the face of future climate-induced disaster.

How to Capitalize on COP27

A blank check for purely development assistance will not help Pakistan. The Pakistani state, at all levels, needs to focus on longer-term technical assistance and build their own internal capacity to create resilience to future natural disasters. At COP27, international partners and possible donors will be looking for indications that Pakistan is ready to commit to this sort of forward-thinking strategy for tackling its climate change challenges in the years ahead.

To some degree, Pakistan has laid the groundwork already. The most recent National Security Policy (NSP) included action against climate change as a component of human security. However, the NSP narrowly defined climate change by connecting it with water security. Food security and other related issues were discussed separately. Written in 2021 and published in the early months of 2022, the policy does not consider how climate change and climate-induced disasters impact all aspects of human security — such as migration and population, gender security, food security and health security. All of these issues were exacerbated by the floods and will worsen in the post-flood recovery period. 

To address its overarching climate change challenge, the Pakistan government recently established the National Flood Response Coordination Center (NFRCC). Modeled after the mechanism used by the previous government to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFRCC is tasked with ensuring coordination across various agencies involved in both the flood response and rehabilitation efforts, as well as working with international donors and nongovernmental organizations on relief.

But new systems and bodies are not always the answer, or the answer alone. And if Pakistan is to capitalize on its opportunity at COP27 and beyond, the state must show a willingness to strengthen established institutions tasked with addressing disasters, whether natural or man-made. This includes the National Disaster Management Authority, which was established after the 2010 floods, along with their provincial counterparts. The Pakistani government must commit to adequate funding for these institutions as well as the National Disaster Risk Management Fund and the District Disaster Management Authorities across the country.

Moving forward, the Pakistani government must develop a roadmap for sweeping internal reforms when it comes to climate change preparedness and identify key entry points for the international community to support Pakistan’s efforts to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

How the International Community Can Help

Where the United States and the international community can play an immediate role is in the provision of seeds that are high yield and drought- and flood-resistant, as well as more cooperation on improved agricultural practices now that we are in the planting season.

This would need to be combined with efforts to provide food to offset malnutrition — particularly for displaced children who are not able to return to school — and better planning for evacuation, especially temporary shelters for evacuees.

Longer term, the international community can also support comprehensive early warning systems and technologies to better gauge weather and rainfall patterns and ensure that this data can be used not just for predictive modeling, but also for better disaster preparedness and policy. 

Given the scale and scope of the disaster, there is no sustainable recovery without international support. Which is why a comprehensive plan from the Pakistani side is imperative, especially if Pakistan can achieve a debt for climate swap from its international lenders. There can be no missteps from the ruling government on a single message.

Additionally, climate change is an issue where the current government and political opposition can work to find common ground on a way forward. It would signal to the international community that Pakistan is serious about addressing its climate change crisis and, if large-scale assistance or a debt-for-climate swap is provided, that there would not be a change in policy from one government to the next in recovery and rehabilitation efforts. This political maturity is needed across the board if Pakistan wants to ensure that they are prepared for the next climate-induced disaster.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s).

PUBLICATION TYPE: Analysis

COP 27 Q&A: Global Impacts & Expected Climate Outcomes

By Martha Hodgkins on October 31, 2022

With Egypt as host, COP 27 has been billed as the “Africa COP”— lending focus to the needs of the African continent. Image: Adapted by Amelia Broodryk/ISS

Ahead of the next United Nations Climate Conference, known as COP 27, the UN Foundation’s Vice President for Climate and the Environment, Pete Ogden, shares his take on the key issues to watch and what’s needed to keep the Paris Agreement goals within reach.

Question: What is the energy going into COP 27? Is there a theme or focus?

Pete Ogden : The upcoming COP has been billed as both the “implementation COP” — to underscore the need for action — and the “Africa COP,” as the host country, Egypt, wants to focus on the needs of the African continent.

On the implementation side, COP 27 did receive an enormous boost of momentum over the past year when the U.S. passed historic climate legislation. And there were other wins as well: Australia increased its own climate ambition, as did India. But this COP comes at a time when the impacts that climate change is already inflicting on countries and communities around the world have never been more apparent, including very much in Africa. Some of these impacts will be irreparable, and of course, part of the tragedy is that, all too often, they’re being inflicted on people who had little to nothing to do with creating this crisis. And in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which created energy shortages and food price spikes that are having cascading effects around the globe, these worsening climate impacts are now being compounded by interwoven energy and food crises. So the world is coming together at COP 27 at a moment when the climate crisis could not be more evident in Africa and around the world, and it’s up to countries to show us what they’re doing to address it.

Can you tell us what the Secretary-General’s High-Level Expert Group is, and what its role is in global climate change efforts?

Last year, at COP 26 in Glasgow, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the creation of a new High-Level Expert Group focused on improving transparency and accountability around the multitude of commitments that subnational and private sector actors have made to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas pollution. Since then, the Secretary-General appointed a very distinguished group of leaders to develop criteria and to better assess and measure progress at the subnational and private sector levels, all toward aligning efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. We’re very much looking forward to the recommendations that this group will bring forward and to seeing them put into practice.

Secretary-General António Guterres addresses world leaders at COP 26 in Glasgow. Photo: Kiara Worth/UNFCCC

What would success look like at this COP?

This is a more difficult COP to measure because it doesn’t bring with it a specific major deadline or decision point upon which success hinges. But it’s abundantly clear that the world is not on course right now to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The onus is therefore on countries to demonstrate that they’re taking additional actions to get us back on track. We are going to be looking for clear signs that countries are going further, faster. We’re looking for signs of credible political will even at a time of so much geopolitical turmoil. Countries have to remain laser focused and understand that the clean energy transition is their way through to the other side.

There’s a huge question mark hanging over the COP as to what China is prepared to deliver and how it will demonstrate its commitment to taking necessary steps to achieve the 1.5°C goal. In previous years, we often saw China use the annual UN General Assembly in September as an opportunity to preview top-line climate announcements, such as ending its practice of publicly subsidizing overseas coal. This year, we didn’t hear anything. China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and the U.S.-China relationship has become very cold due to issues unrelated to climate. China is capable of contributing an enormous amount to solving climate change, but I do worry about its silence at the General Assembly. I will be closely watching to see if China comes to this COP with new initiatives to help get us on a path to climate sustainability.

Another thing to keep an eye on: While the COP is taking place in Egypt, a G20 summit of the world’s major emitters will be taking place in Indonesia, dealing with a whole range of global crises. The symbolism of these two meetings occurring at the same time is striking. At the COP, we will be watching to see whether G20 leaders are able to demonstrate that they understand, and are prepared to address, the underlying climate emergency that is fueling so many of the immediate global crises they will be grappling with at the G20.

Are there any particularly Africa-centric issues that will be highlighted this year, given that the COP is being held in Egypt?

Africa is emblematic of the fact that each day of delayed action from the world’s major polluters is another day of devastation for people who are least responsible for climate change. At every COP, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change formally presents the results of its most recent research to country negotiators. This year, the findings are particularly stark, especially for Africa, so the context becomes really important. Severe climate-related impacts are already hitting Africa hard.

One of the issues that’s going to be fiercely debated at COP 27 is not just the problem of developed economies meeting their preexisting financial commitments, which they have yet to do, but also if and how developed economies will address the costs that are being incurred by developing economies. These costs go beyond what we conventionally think of as adaptation, like the need to rebuild from a climate-fueled natural disaster or to relocate due to sea-level rise. In COP lingo, this category is referred to as “loss and damage,” and it will be a hotly debated topic in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where COP 27 will take place.

In Ethiopia, many farmers have lost their livestock due to drought and the subsequent exhaustion of pasture. Photo: Silvya Bolliger/European Union

Beyond COP 27, what can we expect to see in the next phase of climate action and diplomacy?

Every year is a race between unprecedented global efforts to decarbonize and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and the unrelenting accumulation of emissions that are causing ever more pain for people around the world. We’re still trying to get on top of the crisis, to see the scale of damage decline.

In the next phase of climate action, I think we’ll see several things. One is the ripple effect from the passage of historic climate legislation in the U.S., which is injecting $369 billion into the effort to decarbonize the U.S. economy. The second is a growing — and overdue — recognition of the need to finance and scale up investment in adaptation measures in countries around the world. We’re on a path of increased suffering due to our failure to get on top of climate change sufficiently over the past two decades. So I think we are going to see more attention to what we need to do to cope with the impacts of climate change that are growing in severity.

"Every year is a race between unprecedented global efforts to decarbonize and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and the unrelenting accumulation of emissions that are causing ever more pain for people around the world." Pete Ogden Vice President for Climate and the Environment, UN Foundation

Next year, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are going to pass through their midpoint; they are supposed to be achieved by 2030. In many respects the SDGs are themselves indicators of our relative success, or lack thereof, in meeting the climate challenge. The midpoint presents a huge opportunity to show how we can bring a really integrated approach to the climate challenge and its intersecting issues, like food security, as we work to make a global economic shift toward clean energy.

In 2023, there will also be a global stocktake, which is a formal process in which all signatory countries assess progress toward achieving the Paris Agreement goals. This will be a major indicator of what we have and have not achieved, as well as an important moment of self-reflection — and then, hopefully, intensified action. It’s going to show us the extent to which we need to get ourselves back on the correct trajectory toward a limit of 1.5°C warming.

Artwork at the COP 26 venue in Glasgow calls out key themes of climate diplomacy. Photo: Kiara Worth/UNFCCC

How many COPs have you attended?

I believe COP 27 will be my 10th.

COPs have been taking place for more than a quarter of a century. Is the glass half full or half empty?

I think it’s in the eye of the beholder. I mean, there are incredible signs of progress. If you look at where we were, where the technology costs are, where the political will is — there are pockets of activity that make me optimistic and totally convinced that this is a fight we can win.

On the other hand, we have not yet decisively bent the curve on global emissions, and it’s inflicting so much damage. And we can’t just tread water here. We need to fundamentally decouple our greenhouse gas emissions from economic growth and begin the steep descent that we need — and that I believe we can get to — but we need to keep fighting.

MORE ON COP 27

This is part of a series, featuring perspectives and ideas from UN Foundation’s climate experts on key climate issues on the agenda at COP 27. Catch up on news, events, and other content in this series.

• International edition
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First draft of Cop27 text: what it says and what it means

Fiona Harvey deciphers the state of progress on addressing the climate crisis at UN talks in Egypt

Cop27 live – latest news updates

The first thing to be said about this early draft of a potential cover decision for the Cop27 UN climate summit in Egypt , now entering its final days, is that it is a monster. Coming in at 20 pages, it seems to include text on everything from cutting greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation, in the UN jargon ) to human rights, technology and food.

And yet the first line makes clear that even this hugely long effort – the Glasgow Cop26 cover decision was only seven pages long – is just the beginning. Rather than being a draft text in the conventional sense, ie, a document that can be edited into shape, this draft is even vaguer – a document seen as offering options on some of the “elements” that could be in an eventual text.

There are still items to be added on some of the most contentious issues at these talks, including how to stay within the limit of a 1.5C global temperature rise, how to help poor countries adapt to the effects of the climate crisis, and the most vexed issue of all – loss and damage .

For many issues, the text of the “presidency non-paper on cover decisions” contains just a marker. “Placeholder for relevant outcomes from ongoing negotiations,” is the phrase to look out for, and it appears at least 14 times in this text.

It is clear these negotiations are dragging if – with just two full official negotiating days to go – the early draft cover text is still so long and so much in flux. In the words of Carlos Fuller, the ambassador of Belize and the Alliance of Small Island States: “It’s only a long shopping list at the moment.”

Note: The cover decisions will also include the main outcomes negotiated under the relevant agenda items at this session, such as those on the Global Goal on Adaptation, Loss and Damage, Mitigation Work Programme, New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance, and others, as applicable. Framing / transition to full implementation / implementation and ambition Multilateralism ● Reaffirming our commitment to collective global response to climate change based on latest science and agreed principles, in line with article 2 of the Paris Agreement, recognizing the threat posed by climate change, acknowledging that such threat calls for the widest possible international cooperation in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and through just transition pathways. ● Acknowledging the global challenges the international community is facing and the immense challenges due to overlapping crises of food, energy, cascading risks, geopolitical, financial, debt and economic challenges, compounded and coupled by more frequent and intense climate impacts, all having negative impacts in particular on developing countries, ● Noting the progress achieved in ICAO and IMO in emissions reduction in their respective sectors. Food crises ● Acknowledging the global food crises that exacerbate the impacts of climate change, in particular in developing countries,

It’s significant that food is getting a mention, and so high up. Food and agriculture are clearly key to the climate crisis, but people trying to raise such issues have struggled to have their voices heard. This shows that Egypt is listening to the concerns of fellow Africans.

Energy crisis

● Also recognizing that the unprecedented global energy crisis underlines the urgency to rapidly transform energy systems to be more secure, reliable, and resilient, and the need to accelerate clean and just transitions to renewable energy during this critical decade of action, which requires immediate and massive deployment of all available clean and efficient energy technologies pathway which calls for scaling up solar and wind rapidly this decade

This Cop takes place against a background of soaring global fossil fuel prices, and an unprecedented bonanza for fossil fuel companies. There are 600-plus fossil fuel lobbyists at these talks .

● Noting that net zero by 2050 requires huge leaps in clean energy innovation and reaching net zero by 2050 requires further rapid deployment of available technologies; ● Also noting that providing electricity to around 785 million people that have no access and clean cooking solutions to 2.6 billion people that lack those options is an integral part of our pathway.

This is a coded reference to the tussles over African gas . Many African countries, including Egypt, want to exploit their gas reserves as prices soar. But campaigners and climate experts say a massive expansion in African gas could endanger hopes of staying within the 1.5C temperature limit. Proponents of African gas exploitation have shifted their focus to the need for clean cooking facilities for the hundreds of millions of people who currently lack them, and who suffer severely from indoor air pollution as a result. However, the question of whether countries will really use their gas reserves to bring gas or gas-fired electricity to the poorest for clean cooking instead of selling it to the highest bidder for export remains unanswered.

The net zero pathway relies on unprecedented international cooperation between governments, especially on innovation and investment. Technical and financial support is needed to ensure deployment and transfer of key technologies and infrastructure. Cheap electricity from renewable sources could provide 65% of the world’s total electricity supply by 2030. It could decarbonize 90% of the power sector by 2050, massively cutting carbon emissions and helping to mitigate the climate crisis.

● Being concerned with the impacts of the current energy crisis on the timely fulfillment of pledges and commitments related to energy transition and energy diversification, stressing the importance of avoiding backsliding on pledges related to action and support;

Avoiding backsliding is a key phrase here – the references to action and support mean developed countries cutting their greenhouse gas emissions and providing finance to poorer states.

● Stressing the importance of enhancing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix at all level as part of diversifying energy mixes and systems, and encourages the continued efforts to accelerate measures towards the phase down of unabated coal power and phase out and rationalize inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, in line with national circumstances and recognizing the need for support towards just transitions;

At Cop26 last year in Glasgow, the final agreement was delayed when China and India, among others, wanted to water down language in the text referring to the “phase out” of coal. They insisted it be changed to a “phase down”, which was disappointing to many – and brought the Cop26 president, Alok Sharma, to the brink of tears – but it was still the first time any Cop had agreed to formally phase down fossil fuels.

To have language on coal included in this decision would be another victory. There have been efforts to broaden the language to a phase down of all fossil fuels. On the one hand, reducing the use of all fossil fuels would be welcomed by many as it could lower emissions, but some have viewed this as a way of reducing the emphasis on coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel..

Finance challenges ● Reiterates articles 2, 4 and 9 of the Paris Agreement. ● Highlights that about $4 trillion a year needs to be invested in renewable energy until 2030 – including investments in technology and infrastructure – to allow us to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Furthermore, a global transformation to a low-carbon economy is expected to require investments of at least USD 4-6 trillion a year. Delivering such funding will require a transformation of the financial system and its structures and processes, engaging governments, central banks, commercial banks, institutional investors and other financial actors.

Reform of the World Bank, which many countries perceive as having failed to help with the climate crisis, has been a major talking point. The bank is separate from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), so there is no mandate under these negotiations to require it to reform itself, but countries can send a strong signal that reform is needed, and suggest how that should happen.

Emissions framing ● Notes that since January 2020, 166 nations representing 91% of global GHG emissions have presented new and updated NDCs, highlighting with grave concern the significant gap between the aggregate effect of Parties’ mitigation pledges in terms of global annual emissions of greenhouse gases and the aggregate emission pathways consistent with the Paris Agreement temperature goal, in particular the pathways relevant to keeping the increase in global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels within reach.

Getting countries to focus on limiting global temperature rises to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels was the main achievement of Cop26. So this year’s commitment to 1.5C is crucial, though will require serious emissions cuts by some countries, including China and India, who wanted to water down the wording in favour of the more ambivalent language in the 2015 Paris agreement . That document said: “Holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change”.

Since 2015, science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has shown that the upper limit of 2C is far too high to stave off the effects of climate breakdown, and that beyond 1.5C the impacts quickly become catastrophic and irreversible. So it is to be applauded that the focus on 1.5C is clear and prominent in this draft. But the language of the Paris agreement is still reflected in the clauses below, so countries who prefer the weaker commitment can emphasise them if they prefer.

● Notes the findings of the emission gap report that current unconditional and conditional NDCs are estimated to reduce global emissions in 2030 by 5 and 10 per cent respectively, and that to get on a least-cost pathway to limiting global warming to 2°C and 1.5°C, these percentages must reach 30 per cent and 45 per cent respectively by 2030.

NDCs are nationally determined contributions, the short-term national plans (usually pegged to 2030) to reduce or, in the case of the poorest countries, curb the growth of greenhouse gas emissions. NDCs were required under the Paris agreement, but had to be resubmitted only every five years, a provision known as the “ratchet”. At Cop26, countries agreed to hasten the ratchet, and submit new NDCs every year.

The NDCs submitted at Paris would have led to a temperature rise of more than 3C; those submitted at Glasgow would imply a rise of about 2.6C. However, few countries submitted revised NDCs this year in line with the ratchet – some pleading the cost of living crisis, and the Ukraine war – and current NDCs would see a rise of about 2.5C.

If countries’ long-term goals are taken into account, the picture looks slightly better – temperature rises would stop at about 1.7C. But those goals to reach net zero by 2050-60 are highly questionable as few countries have serious plans in place to meet them.

● Notes that total GHG emission levels resulting from implementation of the unconditional elements of the NDCs is projected to be 3.1% higher in 2030 than in 2019; whereas the total GHG emission level resulting from implementation of the NDCs including conditional elements is projected to be 3.6% lower in 2030 than in 2019. This indicates that if all NDCs (including all conditional elements) are fully implemented, there is a possibility of peaking of global emissions before 2030. However, in order to achieve that peaking, the conditional elements of the NDCs need to be implemented, which depends mostly on access to enhanced financial resources, technology transfer and technical cooperation, and capacity building support; availability of market-based mechanisms; and absorptive capacity of forests and other ecosystems.

The conditional elements of NDCs refer to aspects of developing countries’ national plans that are dependent on them receiving financial help from the rich. Some countries have agreed to cut their emissions by a certain amount, only if they receive the funding necessary to invest in renewable energy and other low-carbon technologies.

● Also recognizes that this requires accelerated action in this critical decade, on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge and equity, reflecting common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty; ● Welcomes submissions of long-term low GHG emission development strategies and NDCs. Relevant linkages (biodiversity, SDGs) ● Underlies the urgent need to address, in a comprehensive and synergetic manner, the interlinked global crisis of climate change and biodiversity loss in the broader context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the vital importance of protecting, conserving and restoring nature and ecosystem for effective and sustainable climate action, Nature-based solutions

The ties between the global crisis in biodiversity and climate breakdown were strongly emphasised at Cop26, but have been less in evidence here. Countries will meet in a few weeks for the biodiversity Cop, called Cop15, under the UN Convention on Biodiversity, and prospects for that meeting are also looking dim.

● Recalling UNEA resolution 5/5. Principles of the Convention and the Paris Agreement ● Recalls that Article 2 of the Paris Agreement stipulates that the Paris Agreement enhances the implementation of the Convention; ● Recalling Article 11 of the Convention. ● Also reaffirming Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Paris Agreement, underlines that the implementation of the Paris Agreement will reflect equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different national circumstances;

The phrase “common but differentiated responsibility” originated in the 1992 UNFCCC, the parent treaty to the 2015 Paris agreement, and the founding treaty under which the conference of the parties (Cop) takes place.

Common but differentiated responsibility means that developing countries – at least, those which were classed as developing in 1992 – should not have to take on the same degree of action as developed countries in cutting emissions, and in providing finance to the poorest and most vulnerable to help them cut emissions and adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis.

Latest science, findings from IPCC reports ● Emphasizes the importance of the best available science for effective climate action and policy making; ● Welcomes the contributions of Working Groups II (IPCC, 2022a) and III (IPCC, 2022b) to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the 2022 adaptation gap and emissions gap reports of the United Nations Environment Programme, and recent global and regional reports of the World Meteorological Organization on the state of the climate;

Some countries have objected at these talks to having any reference to the IPCC, even though in the year since Cop26 it has released its starkest ever warnings on the climate crisis. Having this recognition in the text is essential; without it the arguments around the 1.5C limit cannot be understood.

● Expresses the urgency to showcase the irreversible impacts of climate change on the cryosphere, the need of research and investigation and the actions that must be carried out to the shortest term possible. ● Notes with concern the existing gaps in the global climate observing system and recognizes the need to enhance the coordination of activities by the systematic observation community and improve its ability to provide useful and actionable climate information for mitigation, adaptation and early warning systems, as well as information to enable understanding of adaptation limits and of attribution of extreme events. ● Notes that the impacts of climate change will be much lower at a temperature increase of 1.5 °C compared with 2°C. Urgency of action to keep 1.5C in reach/ Ambition and implementation to close gaps ● Stresses the importance of exerting all efforts at all levels to achieve the Paris Agreement temperature goal of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels,

The emphasis here on the Paris language on temperature goals, including 2C, in contrast to the stronger language on 1.5C above, will dismay some who wanted more forceful commitments to the lower goal.

● Expresses deep regret that developed countries who have the most capabilities financially and technologically to lead in reducing their emissions continue to fall short in doing so, and are taking inadequate and unambitious goals to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while they continue to emit and disproportionately consume the global carbon budget. Developed countries should attain net-negative carbon emissions by 2030. Developing countries can enhance mitigation ambition based on the provision of support by developed countries to developing countries.

It seems unlikely this language will make it into the final decision, as it seems to be asking developed countries to reach net zero by 2030, instead of 2050 as they are planning. The IPCC calls for global emissions to be cut by 45% by 2030, compared with 2010 levels, and while most developed countries are planning to exceed this goal, they are not planning to reach net zero by 2030.

Just and equitable transitions ● Emphasizes that the transitions to low greenhouse gas emission development pathways should be just and inclusive; ● Affirms that sustainable and just solutions to the climate crisis must be founded on meaningful and effective social dialogue and participation of all stakeholders, and notes that the global transition to low emissions provides opportunities and challenges for sustainable economic development and poverty eradication; ● Emphasizes that just and equitable transition encompasses pathways which include energy, socio-economic, workforce and other dimensions, all of which must be based on nationally defined development priorities and include social protection dimensions to mitigate potential impacts associated with the transition, and highlights the important role of the instruments and measures related to social solidarity and social protection floors in mitigating the impacts resulting from the applied measures;

The just transition is a key issue. At core, it means helping those who have jobs in or dependent on fossil fuels to get well-paid jobs in clean low-carbon industries. At Cop26, South Africa pioneered the first just transition partnership, to help workers in coal. At Cop27, a similar partnership, worth $20bn, was announced for Indonesia.

● Also recognizes that this requires accelerated action in this critical decade, on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge and equity, reflecting common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty; ● Decides to establish a work program on just transition to discuss pathways to deliver on article 2.1 of the Paris Agreement in the context of article 2.2. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to recommend a draft decision on this matter for consideration and adoption by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its fifth session, in a manner that builds on and compliments the relevant work streams under the Convention and the Paris Agreement, including the Mitigation work program. ● Decides to convene an annual high-level ministerial round table on just transition, as part of the just transition work program beginning at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement Human rights and human approaches to climate action ● Acknowledges that climate change is a common concern for humankind, Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights including the right to highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the right to adequate standard of living and the right to development, and that the actions by Parties should at all times ensure non-discrimination, gender equality, and promote empowerment of women and girls and intergenerational equity, and be sensitive and responsive to the disproportionate 5 adverse effects associated with climate change, including on indigenous people, youth, women and girls, refugees and internally displaced persons and persons with physical or mental disability/ies.

Human rights have been a key issue at these talks, with protesters drawing attention to the poor record of the hosts, Egypt. Civil society protest has been curtailed in Sharm el-Sheikh, but Egypt has repeatedly emphasised at public Cop meetings that it recognises issues such as gender and the needs of Indigenous peoples.

● Recalls United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/75 which recognized the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right and that this right is related to other rights and existing international law and that its promotion requires the full implementation of the multilateral environmental agreements under the principles of international environmental law and the fulfillment of the relevant obligations and commitments of different stakeholders; ● Recognizes the important role of indigenous peoples, local communities, cities and civil society, including youth and children, in addressing and responding to climate change, and highlighting the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action. Support to facilitate implementation: finance, technology, capacity building IPCC findings on support ● Recognizes the importance of the best available scientific information, inter alia, the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in the provision and mobilization of financial support to developing countries in the context of just transition towards a low-emission and climate-resilient development; ● Emphasizes that accelerated financial support for developing countries from developed countries and other sources is a critical enabler to enhance mitigation action and address inequities in access to finance, including its costs, terms and conditions, and economic vulnerability to climate change for developing countries. Scaled-up public grants for mitigation and adaptation funding for vulnerable regions, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, would be cost-effective and have high social returns in terms of access to basic energy. ● Recognizes the role of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in providing scientific input to inform Parties in strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, while recognizing the need to analyze IPCC outcomes taking into account equity and common but differentiated responsibilities; Need for scaling up finance ● Notes with concern the growing gap between the needs of developing country Parties, in particular due to the increasing impacts of climate change and increased indebtedness, and the support provided and mobilized to complement their efforts to implement their nationally determined contributions, highlighting that current estimates of such needs are in the scale of 5.6 trillion USD up to 2030, while the global annual flows to developing countries

Sums of trillions of dollars sound huge, but they should be seen in context. Nicholas Stern, the climate economist, published a paper last week, commissioned jointly by the UK and Egyptian governments, showing that about $2.4tn a year would be needed to enable developing countries, excluding China, to shift their economies on to a low-carbon footing.

That seems a lot, but Lord Stern points out that it is only about 5% more than the investment they would already plan to make and to receive, to carry on developing in a high-carbon way. The additional investment is well within the capabilities of the World Bank and other public finance institutions, with input from the private sector, to provide, according to Stern.

● Underlines the urgent need to accelerate and enhance climate action and provision of support for addressing climate change in the areas of mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage in order to make it possible to achieve the objective of the Convention and the goals of the Paris Agreement; ● Resolves to take the necessary steps for scaling up climate action while pursuing the achievement of a balance between adaptation and mitigation support, and taking into account country-driven strategies, and the priorities and needs of developing country Parties. ● Recognizes the urgent need for public and private finance to significantly scale up support for REDD+ results assessed and verified under Article 5.2 when meeting Nationally Determined Contributions or fulfilling net-zero claims; ● Notes that global climate finance flows are small relative to the overall needs of developing countries. Global climate finance in 2019–2020 was estimated to be USD 803 billion. This amount is 31–32 per cent of the annual investment needed for the global temperature rise to follow a well below 2 °C or a 1.5 °C pathway. This level of climate finance is also below what one would expect in the light of the investment opportunities identified and the cost of failure to meet climate stabilization targets. (SCF) ● Urges developed country Parties to provide enhanced support, including through financial resources, technology transfer and capacity-building, to assist developing country Parties with respect to both mitigation and adaptation, in continuation of their existing obligations under the Convention, and encourages other Parties to provide or continue to provide such support voluntarily; NCQG ● Placeholder: Urges the ad hoc work programme on the new collective quantified goal to produce more efficient and operational results by 2023; ● Supports continued deliberations on an ambitious new collective quantified goal of climate finance from a floor of USD 100 billion per year to support developing countries, that helps in fulfilling the objective of the UNFCCC and implementation of the Paris Agreement.

In 2009, developed countries pledged to provide at least $100bn a year to help poorer countries cut emissions and adapt to the impacts of extreme weather by 2020. That target will not be met until next year. The failure to meet it is a key source of anger for developing countries and the “lack of trust” between the two spheres has bedevilled these talks.

100 bn goal, status, progress and urgency to meet it ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} ● Expresses grave concern that the goal of developed country Parties to mobilize jointly USD 100 billion per year by 2020 has not yet been met and urges developed country Parties to meet the goal and address the shortfall to $100 billion since 2020. ● Calls to achieve the 100 bn urgently ● Reiterates the Glasgow Pact agreement on doubling climate finance for adaptation. Doubling adaptation finance ● Reiterates the call on developed country Parties1 to at least double the collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing country Parties from 2019 levels by 2025, in the context of achieving a balance between mitigation and adaptation in the provision of scaled-up financial resources; and Requests SCF to prepare a report on the adaptation finance including the doubling of adaptation finance by developed countries.

There were fears earlier this week that countries were trying to water down the Cop26 commitment to double the finance for developing countries from its current levels of about $20bn a year out of the $80bn plus that is provided in climate finance. This appears not to have occurred, and the commitment to doubling adaptation finance is safe.

● Calls on developed country Parties to take further steps to provide clarity and predictability in their adaptation finance pledges through to 2025; 1 Decision 1/CMA.3, para.18. 7 ● Requests a credible and predictable plan on the delivery of the doubling, how the finance is being channeled, reviews adaptation finance pledges made at COP26 and whether funds were delivered, and calls for the adaptation finance pledges that were made to be fulfilled. Transparency in delivering on finance commitments ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} GEF/GCF/AF replenishment ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} ● Calls upon developed countries to show increased ambition in delivering support commensurate with the gravity of the climate change actions needed in developing countries, including through ensuring a substantial increase in the second replenishment of the GCF in line with the funds enhanced programing capacity ● Recognizes the centrality of the role of the adaptation fund in the climate finance architecture , and in this regard welcomes the new pledges made at COP27, and urges all contributors to fulfill their pledges at timely manner, and invites the contributors to ensure the sustainability of the resources of the fund. ● Highlights the role of the LDCF and SCCF in supporting developing countries actions to tackle clime change and in this regard welcomes the pledges made to the two funds and invites developed countries to further contribute to the two funds. ● Requests the GCF to consider providing developing countries with dedicated financial support under the readiness programme to transform their NDCs into investment plans. Setting post-2025 goal ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} Improving access to finance ● Emphasizes the ongoing challenges faced by many developing country Parties in accessing climate finance and encourages further efforts, including by the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, to simplify access to such finance; Article 2.1(c) of the Paris Agreement ● Place holder 2.1c Call on MDBs and IFIs to align and scale up funding, and ensure simplified access ● Encourages all climate finance providers, in particular multilateral and bilateral development banks, to increase climate ambition using the breadth of their policy and financial instruments for greater results with a view to aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement; ● [Notes][welcomes] the report on “Finance for Climate Action” which sets out the investments needed by Developing Countries to deliver on Paris goals, as well as the scale and different kinds of financial flows will be necessary to finance these critical investments, and calls upon all relevant stakeholders to consider the recommendations of the report for implementation. ● Calls on multi-lateral development banks to reform their practices and priorities, in order to reduce the cost of borrowing for climate projects in developing countries and to increase their investment into adaptation financing and urges MDBs to align their operations with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and climate change emergency ● Calls upon MDBs and International Financial Institutions to scale-up funding, and mobilize climate finance from various sources, and encourages the shareholders of MDBs to define a new vision and commensurate operational model, channels and instruments that fit-for-purpose to adequately address the global climate emergency. ● Expresses concern that one-third of all developing countries and two-thirds of low-income countries are at high risk of debt distress. ● Urges the shareholders of the MDBs and IFIs to ensure that these institutions are fit for purpose to deploy the required support for climate action in developing countries.

Strong language here on the World Bank. David Malpass, the bank’s president, was here last week alongside some of his sternest critics, including the prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and the former US vice-president Al Gore. Pressure to reform the bank could be one of the most productive outcomes of these talks.

● Emphasizes that MDBs will need to provide significant share of financial resources, improve their leveraging potential of private finance, deploy full suit of instruments from grants to guarantees and non debt instruments, without exacerbating debt burdens, and address the conservative risk appetites and limited scale of capitalization towards increasing their deployment on climate finance three folds up to 2025. ● Underscores the urgent need for a fundamental transformation and modernization of the global financial architecture, including a systematic reform of the multilateral development banks to make them fit-for-purpose in supporting sustainable development and just and equitable transitions. The key is to address risk aversion in investing in developing countries, to prioritize grant support and to dramatically lower the cost and conditionality of borrowing money that places multilateral support out of reach of the majority of the world’s population, including in BASIC countries. Debt ● Highlights that one-third of all developing countries and two-thirds of low-income countries are at high risk of debt distress. inlight of this tackling these debt difficulties will require a comprehensive approach with tailored solutions. This includes expanding access to low-cost official liquidity facilities; high concessional finance commensurate with AIDA terms; expanding the envelope of low-cost finance; including systematic debt-suspension clauses in loan contracts in the event of a natural disaster;

More than 50 countries are at risk of defaulting on their debt, with potentially disastrous consequences for their societies, the UN Development Programme warned last week. Yet the majority of climate finance provided to the poorest countries still comes in the form of loans, with high interest rates and repayment requirements. Providing more money via grants or concessionary finance, and lowering the cost of capital for the poorest,are key priorities for these countries.

● Being aware that the above-mentioned challenges are exacerbating the debt crisis of the developing country Parties and hindering their efforts to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication, as well as the fulfillment of the key principles of “Inclusive Growth” and “Leaving no one and no place behind”. Innovative financing options ● Further encourages the private sector to enhance its climate finance mobilization to increase the availability of resources for the implementation of climate action, particularly in developing country Parties and encourages them to commit to robust, comparable and science-based targets to align their investment portfolio with the goals of the Paris Agreement; Technology ● Agrees on a two-year Sharm El-Sheikh Technology Implementation work plan to support the implementation of technology actions identified and prioritized in developing countries’ country Parties’ nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans and technology action plans. ● Requests the SBI to elaborate the design of the work plan referred to in para x above, with a view to recommending a draft decision for consideration and adoption by the CMA at its 6th session (November 2024). ● Considers the implementation gaps from climate technology activities and the results of the global stocktake relating to technology, ● Recognizes the challenges faced by developing countries to adopt low-emissions technologies, taking into account vulnerable conditions, including limited finance, technology development and transfer, and limited institutional capacity. ● Calls for cooperation for the development of cost-effective clean energy technologies and solutions to facilitate flows of renewable energy. ● Establishes the Sharm El-Sheikh Technology Implementation Work Program to take stock of the Poznan Strategic Program (PSP) and to support the implementation of the technology needs in developing countries. ● Resolves to further enhance international cooperation, remove barriers to technology transfer and cooperation, and ensure accessibility and affordability to climate technologies for developing countries.

Access to clean technology, or “technology transfer”, used to be a hot Cop topic more than a decade ago. China led developing countries in demanding access to intellectual property for renewable energy and other low-carbon technologies. Developed countries were adamant their private sector companies would not be required to give up any intellectual property rights.

The debate died down largely because the world moved on – China became one of the global leaders in renewable energy component manufacturing, and has in effect cornered the market in some key materials, such as rare earths, required for renewable energy systems. Some of this language on technology is here more as a matter of form than substance.

Capacity building ● Notes that capacity gaps and needs still exist in developing countries and calls upon developed country Parties to increase support for long term, country-driven capacity-building interventions to enhance the effectiveness, success and sustainability of capacity-building efforts; ● Welcomes the launch of the Paris Committee on Capacity-building toolkit to assess capacity-building gaps and needs to implement the Paris Agreement and invites Parties and relevant institutions to consider using the toolkit to support their capacity gaps and needs assessment efforts; Mitigation Relevant findings from IPCC and UNFCCC synthesis reports/ Acknowledging mitigation gap/ Call to strengthen ambition to close mitigation gap ● Welcomes the latest 2022 synthesis report on nationally determined contributions, and notes with serious concern the finding in that synthesis report that the total global greenhouse gas emission level in 2030, taking into account implementation of all latest nationally determined contributions and the principles of CBDR and different national circumstances; is estimated to be 0.3 per cent below the 2019 level. This is not in line with findings of 10 Working Group III to the AR6 that concluded that, in scenarios of limiting warming to 1.5 °C (with over 50 per cent likelihood by 2100) with no or limited overshoot, GHG emissions need to reduce by 43 (34–60) percent by 2030 relative to the 2019 level. ● Notes with appreciation the finding in the contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that there are mitigation options in all sectors with the potential to at least halve global greenhouse gas emissions relative to the 2019 level by 2030; ● Notes also that in accordance with the WGIII contribution to the IPCC’s AR6 demand-side measures have high emission reduction potential and encourages Parties to adopt appropriate demand-side measures; ● Emphasizes the urgent need for immediate, deep, rapid and sustained reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions by Parties across all sectors, in order to limit global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels;

Again, it will cheer the UK and other countries supportive of the Glasgow pact to see the 1.5C focus here, without the Paris hedging of 2C. The emphasis on the IPCC is also good.

● Highlights the importance of ensuring and enabling just transition for developing countries. ● Reaffirms the critical nature of the present decade and the need to accelerate emissions reductions during this timeframe; ● Recalls paragraph 29 of the Glasgow Climate Pact, welcomes submissions of new and updated NDCs since Glasgow while regretting that some Parties have not yet aligned their NDCs with the Paris Agreement temperature goal, and urges those Parties whose NDCs are not yet aligned with the Paris Agreement temperature goal to revisit and strengthen the 2030 targets in their NDCs by the fifth session of the CMA and to report on progress at pre 2030 Ministerial RT/ SG summit/ GST; ● Requests the secretariat to prepare an updated synthesis to be captured in an annual LTS synthesis report on long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategies referred to in Article 4, paragraph 19, of the Paris Agreement to be made available to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its fifth session;

The repetition of the just transition seems untidy, this could perhaps be better included in a single section on the just transition.

● Welcomes the announcement and further implementation of various mitigation-related initiatives since Glasgow and urges participants in those initiatives to report on progress in those initiatives in advance of CMA5 in 2023; ● Emphasizes the importance of further action to reduce by 2030 non-carbon dioxide GHG emissions, including methane, and invites Parties to prepare action plans to this end and regularly report on progress made through their BTRs and other appropriate vehicles Submissions of enhanced/updated NDCs and long-term strategies ● Welcomes the new or updated nationally determined contributions communicated by Parties since the Conference of the Parties serving asthe meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement at its third session (October-November 2021), ● Also welcomes the long-term low-emission development strategies communicated by Parties; ● Repeats request for all Parties to revisit and strengthen 2030 NDCs to align with 1.5°C; and Calls on Parties to update LTS regularly in line with the latest available science in line with NDCs

More repetition, on the NDCs. This time it is emphasising the ratchet agreed in Glasgow by requesting, though not requiring, countries to come up with better NDCs sooner. This is strong text and some will seek to water it down.

Link between mitigation and means of implementation ● Acknowledges that enhancing support for developing country Parties will allow for higher ambition in their mitigation actions and urges developed country Parties to increase such support; Mitigation Work Programme & Mitigation Roundtable ● {Placeholder} Adaptation Relevant findings from IPCC and UNFCCC synthesis reports/ Relevance/urgency of adaptation ● Welcomes the contribution of Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report and recognizes the importance of fostering a climate resilient development, integrating adaptation and mitigation action with equity and system transitions putting in the center nature and people; ● Notes with serious concern the findings from the contribution of Working Group II to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, according to which, despite progress in adaptation planning and implementation, adaptation gaps exist between current levels of adaptation and levels needed to respond to impacts and reduce climate risks; ● Also notes the finding that while there are feasible and effective adaptation options which can reduce risks to people and nature, current adaptation practice is small scale, fragmented, and incremental; ● Urges Parties to go beyond incremental action and take a transformational approach to enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change by integrating adaptation into policy, programs, and budgets to accelerate climate resilient development; ● Invites IPCC to produce a special report on GGA. ● Recognizes the importance of the global goal on adaptation for the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and recalls decision 7/CMA.3 to establish and launch the Glasgow – Sharm el Sheikh work program on the global goal on adaptation.

The doubling of climate finance for adaptation is key for the poorest developing countries. At present, most of the existing climate finance flows to middle-income countries, much of it for projects that could have been profitable, and obtained private sector investment, even without the aid. Adaptation projects, by contrast, are almost impossible to fund from private sector sources, but they are a literal lifeline for beleaguered communities.

Projects such as regrowing mangrove swamps, restoring forests and wetlands, constructing more robust buildings, and installing early warning systems, can all save lives when extreme weather strikes. Their benefits are huge, but diffuse, so private sector companies will not stump up cash in the way they would for a wind farm or solar panels. That means if we want more of the available climate finance to go to where it is most needed, a much bigger proportion needs to be earmarked for adaptation.

● Welcomes the progress made in year one of the two-year Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme on the global goal on adaptation, as outlined in the progress report of the subsidiary bodies. ● Looks forward to the conclusion of the Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh work programme on the global goal on adaptation at COP28 and notes the robust program of work for 2023 laid out in decision XX/CMA.4. ● Notes the increasing number of countries with adaptation plans and policies, with 38 national adaptation plans submitted by developing countries and over eighty percent of Parties with a least one national adaptation planning instrument and urges Parties who have not yet done so to continue to engage in adaptation planning and action, as called for by Article 7.9 of the Paris Agreement, including formulating and implementing national 12 adaptation plans; assessing climate change impacts and vulnerability; monitoring and evaluating and learning from adaptation plans, policies, programmes and actions; and building the resilience of socioeconomic and ecological systems. ● Urges Parties to go beyond incremental action and take a transformational approach to enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change by integrating adaptation into policy, programs, and budgets to accelerate climate resilient development. ● Recalls that the current needs for adaptation are significant and that greater adaptation needs involve scaled-up resources and doubling financial resources for adaptation, and the urgency to fulfill the mandate of having a clear Global Goal on Adaptation to guide the provision of finance and means of implementation from developed to developing countries to reduce the risk of climate change impacts. ● Notes that the GGA is a framework established, which will have clearly defined dimensions/focus areas, sectors, cross-cutting approaches, indicators/metrics/targets as appropriate, and sources of information/input that will enable the full and sustained implementation of the Paris Agreement. ● Invites Parties to move towards achieving the GGA with the view to enhancing adaptation action and support. ● Invites IPCC to further contribute with a special report and a methodological report to be included in the IPCC seventh assessment cycle work programme to reflect on the gaps and needs for the GGA. ● Reiterates that developed countries should at least double their provision of adaptation finance by 2025, with transparency including by providing timetables and roadmaps.

This is strong language that reflects the settlement reached in Glasgow for a doubling of climate finance for adaptation.

● Highlights the importance of funding for preparing and implementing the NAPs. ● Reaffirms that adaptation is a global challenge with varying local, national, regional and transboundary impacts and risks that require coordinated global response under the Convention and its Paris Agreement, guided by the agreed principles, and taking into account the priorities and needs of developing country Parties; ● Notes with serious concern the gravity of the most recent available science findings including Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report, and UNEP Adaptation Gap Report on the complex and compound impacts and risks resulting from climate hazards occurring concurrently, and cascading across sectors and regions, while confirming with confidence a widened adaptation implementation gap as commensurate with the adaptation needs and risks, affecting the most vulnerable hotspots. ● Considers that any further delay in concerted global adaptation action will miss the brief, rapidly closing window to secure a livable future. Early warning systems ● Notes with serious concern, that one third of the world, including sixty percent of Africa, does not have access to early warning and climate information services, and calls for the rapid development, innovation, and delivery of climate information to better adapt to and manage the impacts of climate change [in line with the UN Secretary General’s call for Early Warning for All in the next five years]. ● Welcomes and reiterates the UN Secretary-General call made on World Meteorological Day on 23 March 20222 to protect everyone on earth through universal coverage of early warning systems against extreme weather and climate change within the next five years

Early warning systems about impending extreme weather, such as floods and storms, are one of the key priorities of the UN secretary general, António Guterres.

● Requests the development partners, international financial institutions and operating entities of the financial mechanism to provide support for implementation of this initiative Role of NAPs and AdComs ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} ● Acknowledges the crucial role of NAPs and urge the emphasis on NAPS in adaptation finance ● Acknowledges the vital role of the global goal on adaptation in fulfilling the 2.1b) in the Paris Agreement and pursuing enhanced action and support, including financial support for developing countries. ● Reflects importance of GLASS and the communication of input to GST in decision xx ● Underlines the need for ecosystem based approach for adaptation ● Highlights importance to avoid maladaptation ● Dedicates support for the implementation of the NDCs, NAPs and LT-LEDS. ● Recalls paragraph 29 of decision 1/CMA.3 of the Glasgow Climate Pact, and welcomes Parties’ efforts so far to revisit and strengthen NDCs to align with the Paris temperature goal. Adaptation to be effective and locally-led ● Emphasizes that paths to adaptation need to be inclusive and locally determined and that support needs to be delivered in line with country-driven priorities; ● Highlights the role and need for locally led adaption and recognizes that the indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge are crucial. Adaptation Finance ● Notes with serious concern that the current levels of international adaptation finance flows, specially to address developing country Parties needs and priorities is insufficient and inadequate to respond to climate change impacts, risks and vulnerabilities; ● Calls for a strong political will to transform pledges into implementation actions in accordance with relevant decisions on acceleration of adaptation finance, in particular the doubling of 2019 adaptation finance flows by 2025;

Even though these relatively uncontroversial elements are diffuse, this text needs to be trimmed and tightened.

Additional Technical work ● Recognizes the challenges associated with reviewing overall progress in achieving the global goal on adaptation given the challenges involved in assessing progress on adaptation at the local, national, regional and international level; ● Invites the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to consider a special report on the global goal on adaptation as part of its Seventh Assessment Cycle Report, and to present its findings to the Conference of the Parties at its twenty-eighth session (November 2023), including those relevant to achieving the global goal on adaptation and assessing progress towards achieving it in light of the temperature goal, contributing to the first and subsequent global stocktake. Loss and damage Relevance/urgency to address loss and damage (L&D) ● Recognizes that implementation of the Paris Agreement must include action related to averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse impacts of climate change and that the most vulnerable countries will be significantly affected by loss and damage;

And here, at last, we have it – the most controversial issue on the table. The text begins with the least contentious aspects, by noting that loss and damage is occurring, and details the impacts of it. It is quite a way into this section before we get to the “alarm” at the “insufficiency of financial resources” provided for loss and damage, which are the key issues.

● Also recognizes the growing urgency to address loss and damage as it will be increasing with each fraction of a degree in global temperature rise; ● Notes with great concern, as documented by IPCC 6th AR WG II report, the growing gravity, scope and frequency of loss and damage in all regions, and that loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change take the form of extreme weather events as well as slow onset events, and result in devastating economic and non-economic losses including through its impact on cultural heritage, human mobility and forced displacement and the lives and livelihoods of local communities, and underlines in this regard that an adequate and effective response to loss and damage is of great importance to the continue credibility and relevance of the UNFCCC process; ● Expresses deep concern towards the significant financial costs associated with loss and damage for developing countries, resulting in increasing the burden of indebtness and impairing the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and recalling the principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities, while underlining that the IPCC WG II report and most recent best available science concluded that the gravity, scope and frequency of losses and damages will continue to increase with every additional fraction of temperature increase. In this regard, expresses their alarm by the insufficiency of financial resources provided or available to avert, minimize and address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, particularly addressing loss and damage.

“There is “deep concern” and even “alarm” about loss and damage – these are strong words, and deserve to make it into the final text.

But note what is not here. The words “reparation”, “liability” and “compensation” have been used by some climate campaigners, and a few countries, to describe loss and damage at these talks. These words, which carry specific legal meanings, are found nowhere in this text.

Likewise, under the Paris Cop decision text, the terms liability and compensation are excluded.

Loss and damage refers to the ravages of extreme weather too severe for countries to adaptor protect themselves against, and includes the social and economic impacts, as well as damage to physical infrastructure. It also refers to the financial assistance developed countries must provide to afflicted countries for the loss and damage they suffer, but does not equate this to compensation.

● Reiterates the urgency of scaling up action and support, as appropriate, including finance, technology transfer and capacity-building, for implementing approaches for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change in developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to these effects, and that scaling up action and support requires significant new and additional resources to address existing financial gaps particularly in relation to addressing loss and damage; ● Welcomes the Parties agreement for the first time to include a sub-agenda item titled “Matters related to funding arrangements responding to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change including a focus on addressing loss and damage” under agenda item titled “matters related to finance” under COP and CMA, as a reflection of the wide global consensus around the grave situation in relation to loss and damage and the need for effective funding arrangements related to responding to loss and damage in particular addressing loss and damage. ● Acknowledges the relevant work undertaken outside the UNFCCC process in relation to activities of averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change such as the G7’s Global Climate Risk Shield, Insuresilience, and the WMO and UNSG’s Initiative on Early Warning Systems for All, and considering them as useful contributions that can complement and mutually reinforce the progress aspired under the UNFCCC Framework, through a broader and diverse financial ecosystem which includes, but not limited to, innovative and hybrid sources of finance.

Some developing countries support a “mosaic” approach to finance for loss and damage, which would draw together finance from a variety of sources, including the World Bank and other public finance institutions, and initiatives such as the Global Shield, a German idea for an insurance programme that would pay out quickly to poor countries when disaster strikes.

However, other developing countries want to see a single new financial facility for loss and damage, which would take the place of any existing finance and could draw money from mechanisms, such as a global carbon tax.

The debate over what form such financing should take is unlikely to be resolved at these talks. That will be a bitter disappointment to developing countries, who accuse rich nations, such as the US, of dragging their feet. Rich nations say they support loss and damage finance, but need to work through details, such as who would govern any financial facilities and how money would be disbursed.

● Welcomes the Parties’ agreement on all the institutional arrangements of the Santiago Network for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change to enable its full operationalization, supports its mandated role in catalyzing technical assistance for the implementation of the relevant approaches at the local, national and regional levels in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, and renews their determination to select the host of the Santiago Network Secretariat by 2023 through a selection process which is conducted in an open, transparent, fair and neutral manner in accordance with the process outlined in paragraphs 17-18 of CMA/**** COP/****. ● {Placeholder for Funding Arrangements}. Need for funding arrangements to address L&D ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} MDBs and Parties to do more to support actions to address L&D ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} Transparency Reporting under the enhanced transparency framework ● Recognizes the importance of increase support to developing countries for the implementation of the enhanced transparency framework under article 13 of the PA in a timely, adequate and predictable manner. Cooperation and cross-cutting action Cooperation under Article 6 ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations}

With research published last year showing that many countries are misreporting emissions, including that of the powerful greenhouse gas methane, the calls for transparency are more important than ever. In the UN jargon, transparency is covered by MRV, which means measurement, reporting and verification of emissions, and it has long been an issue.

Some countries are reluctant to submit to any external oversight of their emissions, seeing it as an infringement of their national sovereignty.

But if emissions cannot be properly verified, the world’s efforts to stay within 1.5C will be hampered. Key countries whose emissions are questionable include Russia and Saudi Arabia, two of the world’s biggest oil and gas producers and emitters.

● Decides that REDD-plus results assessed and verified under Article 5.2 [post 2016] may be submitted under Article 6.2. Response measures ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} ● Takes note of the conclusion of consideration of the Katowice Committee on Impacts of the implementation of response measures annual reports 2019 and 2021–22 by the forum on the impacts of the implementation of response measures. ● Welcomes the SBSTA and SBI concluding the midterm review of the workplan of the forum and its KCI with a view to enhancing effectiveness of the forum. ● Ensures that response measures are linked to all mitigation policies and the negative economic and social consequences of the implementation of response measures are addressed and averted. Relevant domestic and international efforts/ Cooperative initiatives from the Glasgow Climate Pact ● Welcomes the announcement and further implementation of various mitigation-related initiatives since Glasgow; ● Calls upon Parties to take further action to reduce by 2030 non-carbon dioxide GHG emissions; Relevant work by ICAO and IMO ● Covered above. Special needs and special circumstances of Africa ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} Ocean and climate change ● Welcomes the informal summary report by the Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice on the Ocean and Climate Change dialogue 2022, held on 15 June 2022, on how to strengthen ocean-based action on climate change; ● Encourages Parties to consider including, as appropriate, ocean-based action in their communications and reports, including but not limited to nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, and adaptation communications; ● Recognizes the findings of the recent best available science, as well as traditional knowledge, knowledge of indigenous peoples and local knowledge systems; ● Requests that the reports under para. 60, 1/CP.26 be made available to the annual dialogue; ● Encourages Parties to: consider, as appropriate, sustainable ocean-based climate mitigation and adaptation action in their national climate goals or in the implementation of these goals, including but not limited to nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, and adaptation communications; and enhance cooperation between the UNFCCC and other international organizations and processes, including the UN Ocean Conferences, while respecting existing mandates and avoiding duplication. ● Decides that the annual Ocean and Climate Change dialogue will, from 2023, be facilitated by two co-facilitators, selected by Parties, and invites the SBSTA Chair, in coordination with the co-facilitators, to select and define focused thematic areas in advance of the dialogue, in consultation with Parties and observers, including on progress of UNFCCC work programmes and constituted bodies to integrate and strengthen ocean-based action (as invited in 1/CP.26 para 60); Role of forests ● Recalls that, in the context of the provision of adequate and predictable support to developing country Parties, Parties should collectively aim to slow, halt and reverse forest cover and carbon loss, in accordance with national circumstances, consistent with the ultimate objective of the Convention, as stated in its Article 2; ● Recalls the IPCC findings that GHG emissions reductions and removals from forests and land use are essential to all pathways to global net zero and the critical role that healthy forests serve in climate regulation, biodiversity protection, food and water security, soil fertility and limiting forced migration; ● Recognizes the urgent need for public and private finance to significantly scale up support for REDD+ results assessed and verified under Article 5.2 when meeting Nationally Determined Contributions or fulfilling net-zero claims; Sustainable lifestyles ● Notes the importance of transition to sustainable lifestyles and sustainable patterns of consumption and production for the efforts to address climate change; Education ● Also notes the importance of an educational approach that promotes new lifestyles, while fostering a renewed pattern of development and sustainability based on care, fraternity and cooperation. Global stocktake and periodic review Status and importance of the GST process ● Welcomes the progress of the first global stocktake and notes with appreciation the balanced, comprehensive and inclusive nature of the first technical dialogue of the stocktake; ● Also welcomes the invitation of the United Nations Secretary General to convene a climate ambition summit in 2023 ahead of the conclusion of the first global stocktake at COP 28 and CMA 5;

The global stocktake, required under the Paris agreement, means assessing countries’ successes – or otherwise – in meeting their NDCs, and the policies and measures they have in place to reduce emissions. It is due next year, and is the main mechanism for ensuring countries are fulfilling their promises.

It is important for language on the global stocktake to be included this year, but expect fireworks next year when countries have to submit to scrutiny.

● Emphasizes that the outcome of the global stocktake shall inform Parties in updating and enhancing, in a nationally determined manner, their actions and support in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Agreement, as well as in enhancing international cooperation for climate action; ● Urges all stakeholders involved in the first global stocktake to focus on achieving the outcome referred to in Article 14, paragraph 3, of the Paris Agreement; ● Expresses appreciation to the co-facilitators of the technical dialogue for their efforts to deliver the second meeting of that dialogue, in a robust, holistic, and inclusive manner consistent with Article 14 of the Paris Agreement and decision 19/CMA.1. ● Welcomes and encourages the active engagement of Parties and non-Party stakeholders in providing inputs and participating in the activities of the Technical Dialogue ● Further welcomes the conclusions of the 57th session of the SBSTA and SBI, on the need for additional activities to be undertaken over the course of 2023 as part of the consideration of outputs component of the global stocktake, including, inter alia, holding intersessional workshops and inviting the high-level committee referred to in paragraph 33 of decision 19/CMA.1 to provide an update during the fifty-eighth sessions of the subsidiary bodies (June 2023) on progress in planning their high-level events. ● Welcomes progress towards the Global Stocktake, invites the UNSG to discuss high level outputs of the GST, as part of his 2023 Leaders’ Summit and calls on Presidency to prepare for a GST that is inclusive, balanced, comprehensive and focused Party-driven process, with the participation of nonParty stakeholders. ● Recognizes the significance of the global stocktake as the ambition ratcheting mechanism under the Paris Agreement ● Emphasizes the need for Parties to work towards an ambitious outcome to the Global Stocktake at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement that enables Parties to enhance their actions and support, including Nationally Determined Contributions, as well as deliver a step change in international collaboration) Second periodic review ● {Placeholder for relevant outcomes from the ongoing negotiations} Action by non-Party stakeholders Role of non-Party stakeholders, including youth and children, women and girls, cities and local communities, indigenous peoples ● Expresses its appreciation to the Presidency of the Conference of the Parties and the children and youth constituency for organizing the youth-led forum and urges Parties to include youth in their processes for designing and implementing climate policy and action, recognizing the importance of intergenerational equity and maintaining the stability of the climate system for future generations; ● Recognizes the role of children and youth as agents of change in addressing and responding to climate change by urging future Presidencies of the Conference of the Parties to continue to appoint youth envoys, and to promote the full, meaningful and equal participation of children and youth including through continuing to host the Children and Youth Pavilion launched for the first time at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. ● Notes the outcomes from the seventeenth Conference of Youth, organized by the constituency of children and youth non-governmental organizations and held in Sharm El Sheikh in November 2022; ● Welcomes the holding of the first Youth-led climate forum (hereafter, the Sharm Youth Climate Dialogue) pursuant to paragraph 65 of the and a meaningful arrangement to ensure visibility and impact for the global youth policy statement, and urges future presidencies in full collaboration with YOUNGO and other Youth Organizations, and with the support of the UNFCCC secretariat to continue to champion and develop this forum and support its progressive development and substantive impact. ● Welcomes the appointment of the first COP Presidency’s Youth Envoy as a further step towards strengthening the COP Presidencies’ approaches towards youth climate engagement and dialogue, and encourages future incoming presidencies to consider to do the same. ● Encourages Parties to take further steps towards deepening their engagement with youth with regard to policy planning, implementation and advocacy including through periodic and institutional dialogue, and, as appropriate, to consider including young representatives and negotiators into their national delegations, and further to consider making public information about the measures they undertake to support youth participation at the climate conversation at the local, national, regional, continental and international levels. ● Urges Parties to address the differentiated impacts of climate change on children and youth, including girls and women, inter alia, by collecting, using and reporting disaggregated data, with a view of strengthening gender, youth and child responsive climate action policies that consistently ensure the full respect and enjoyment of human rights by children and youth. ● Invites the secretariat to consider supporting children and youth’s meaningful participation including by exploring means and ways by improvements to allocation of badges quotas and equitably distributing them globally. Engagement of the private sector ● Affirms that achieving the objective of the Convention and the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement requires extensive collaboration among all levels of government, the private sector and civil society; Global climate action in the UNFCCC process (Marrakesh Partnership, etc.) ● Encourages Parties and non-Party stakeholders to engage actively in Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action initiatives; ● Welcomes the leadership of the High-Level Champions, including in the context of the Breakthrough Agenda, and collaboration between Parties and non-Party stakeholders, and emphasizes the need for continued acceleration and collaboration; ● Invites the High-Level Champions and secretariat to prepare a synthesis report on progress of initiatives with regard to the for Global Climate Action and the Breakthrough Agendas. ● Welcomes the Sharm el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda that aims at rallying both states and non-state actors behind a shared set of adaptation actions. Accountability of action by non-Party stakeholders ● Welcomes the recommendations of the High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities, launched by the United Nations Secretary-General in June 2022, which are designed to enhance transparency and accountability related to, and progress in achieving, the climate pledges of businesses, investors, cities and regions; ● Invites the secretariat, in consultation with the High-Level Champions, to ensure greater accountability on voluntary initiatives and pledges as means to revise the membership and working arrangements of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, building on the work of the Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action platform; ACE ● Welcomes the adoption of the first action plan under the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), which sets out short-term, clear and time-bound activities in the four priority areas of the Glasgow work programme and across the six elements of ACE in a balanced manner as a concrete step towards empowering all members of society, including youth, to engage in climate action.

The breakthrough agenda refers to businesses that are reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, often using a sectoral approach that covers all or many of the biggest companies in a given high-emitting sector – such as steel, road transport and hydrogen – and agreeing ways for them to collaborate and cut emissions. Note there is no mention of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, which brought together banks and other investors with more than $130tn under management, spearheaded by the former Bank of England governor Mark Carney at Cop26.

GFANZ has been beset by controversy as it turns out some of its 500-plus members continue to invest in coal and other fossil fuels, many having been attracted by the huge financial returns from fossil fuels at present.

Businesses have a clear role to play in the move to net zero, but the question of how to move the global financial system away from fossil fuels has not been resolved. Next year, Cop28 will be held in United Arab Emirates – the world’s third biggest oil producer.

What does it mean?

This unwieldy draft reflects nearly every element that has been discussed in any form at this Cop. Proponents of climate action will be cheered by the language affirming the importance of 1.5C, the phase down of coal, and a commitment to doubling finance for adaptation.

But they will want to see a clearer and more prominent commitment to the 1.5C limit in the next version of this text, and a commitment to commission a formal report on how coal is to be urgently phased down, rather than the vague promise of an eventual phase down that’s in there at present.

But as the placeholders show, some of the most contentious issues – chiefly loss and damage – have yet to be resolved. With Cop scheduled to end at 6pm Egyptian time (4pm GMT) on Friday, talks will almost certainly carry on into Saturday, but with countries so far apart still on key issues there appears to be little resolution in sight.

A final settlement of loss and damage was always unlikely at these talks, but the fact that countries are now talking about it in a detailed way is a step forward. If progress can be made on the key issue of World Bank reform outside these talks, it would open up far greater possibilities.

• Climate crisis
• Global climate talks
• United Nations

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Reflections on COP27

November 19, 2022 The 27th annual UN Climate Summit—known as COP27 —concluded on Friday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. World leaders converged on the Red Sea resort to discuss increasingly dire natural disasters, the war in Ukraine, climate reparations, and how best to accelerate the transition to net zero. McKinsey’s Sustainability practice was there too—including senior partners Daniel Pacthod  and Tarek El Sayed —hosting sessions with CEOs, experts, and thought leaders to nail down what practical steps leaders can take to achieve sustainability and growth across energy, nature, materials, adaptation, and finance. COP28 is scheduled for November 2023, in Dubai. In the meantime, get familiar with McKinsey’s insights on the transition to net zero.

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Turning up the volume on calls for food system change

From November 6-18, world leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers from around the world came together in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt to rally political will, science-based solutions, and bold action toward addressing the global climate challenge. While there remains much to do and finite time to do it, COP27 raised the volume on the call for change—with calls for food systems change louder than ever.  

At COP26, food and agriculture were peripheral at best, with little attention paid to the climate impacts of our food system. This year, due to the efforts of GFI and a host of organizational partners, food earned a top spot on the COP27 agenda, with alternative proteins featured as an essential solution for meeting climate, food security, global health, and biodiversity goals. 

As one of nine co-hosts of the first-ever Food Systems Pavilion and a contributor to multiple others, GFI was there alongside policymakers, private sector practitioners, nonprofits, youth, and indigenous leaders to put forth solutions to meet the moment. In the months leading up to COP27, we conducted in-depth assessments of country-level climate goals, identifying regionally relevant ways that alternative proteins can bolster action plans to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

Our central, unifying prompt: what if we could build a more resilient, net-zero, nature-positive food system that still provides people with the foods they love?

Here’s our top moments, milestones, and mission-critical next steps:

#1 Talking alt proteins on opening day of COP27

Nov. 6: On the opening day plenary of COP27, GFI Brazil’s managing director Gus Guadagnini and Infarm CEO Sudhanshu Sarronwala listen in as Elizabeth Nsimadala, World Food Organization board member, delivers a keynote address on the importance of food system transformation given the all-too-real challenges of water scarcity, nature loss, and food insecurity. Cutting right to the chase on Day 1, Gus called on governments around the world to invest in alternative proteins: “Alternative proteins are one of the most important solutions to reach climate resilience. We need to invest at least $10 billion a year in alternative protein research, development, and commercialization to get this solution to the scale the world needs.” As a co-host of the Food Systems Pavilion, GFI led and co-led multiple sessions like this one throughout the two-week conference, and brought together representatives from The Nature Conservancy, World Economic Forum, World Resources Institute, and other NGOs, government agencies, and indigenous and youth leaders to focus on actions, strategies, and solutions that have the potential to drive the transformation toward healthier, more resilient, and more equitable food systems.

#2 Solving the protein dilemma through smart policy and financing

Nov. 8: Tamar Zandberg, Israel’s Minister of Environmental Protection, delivered opening comments during a GFI-led session on Day 3— “Solving the protein dilemma through smart policy and financing.” GFI investor engagement manager Sharyn Murray, moderated the expert panel that followed, featuring colleagues from FAIRR Initiative, the Brazilian National Ministry of Agriculture, IBD Invest, Asian Development Bank, Mosa Meat, and The EVERY Company. Sharyn and panelists shared the state of global investments in alternative proteins to date, while illuminating how much more is needed if we are to scale solutions in time to dramatically and quickly reduce emissions. The session marked the first time ever on a COP stage that policymakers, investors, and industry leaders gathered to focus on how government, finance, and innovation can work together to scale the alternative protein sector and accelerate alt proteins as a game-changing solution to global climate and food insecurity.

#3 GFI, FAIRR, and 50by40 focus on financing a just transition

Nov. 9: 50by40 and FAIRR together hosted “Financing a Just Transition to Global Sustainable Food Systems and Protein Production: Opportunities and Lessons” at the Food4Climate Pavilion, one of several food-focused pavilions at COP27. During this session, GFI Brazil’s managing director Gus Guadagnini engaged in conversation with high-level climate investment experts, including representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank, the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions, Asian Development Bank. While many conversations at COP naturally focus on ecological sustainability, Gus introduced some other important factors to consider when advocating for climate solutions— like alternative proteins—such as public health and preservation of cultural practices.

#4 GFI’s Sharyn Murray speaks to the power of investors to drive equity

Nov. 9: GFI’s investor engagement manager Sharyn Murray was invited to speak at a United Nations press conference on the state of women in the future of food—a first-of-its-kind event. This critical discussion was hosted by the Vegan Women Summit in collaboration with ProVeg International. One clear theme that emerged: the importance of meaningfully engaging mothers, the world’s leading consumer, in food systems conversations—including conversations about alternative proteins. Sharyn was joined on stage by prominent thought leader and author of “The Future of Food is Female,” Jennifer Stojkovic. Stojkovic also supports GFI’s mission, stating that “alternative protein is not the only solution to the climate crisis. But there is no solution to the climate crisis without it.”

#5 Israel pavilion broadcasts its support for alternative proteins

Nov. 10: GFI president Bruce Friedrich and GFI Israel vice president of strategy and policy Alla Voldman visit the Israel pavilion, where alternative protein innovation was championed as a key climate solution. Here, they stand alongside a kiosk characterizing alternative proteins as a “taste of the future.” This interactive educational tool was on display throughout the full two weeks of COP, demonstrating Israel’s clear commitment to the cause. The kiosk’s reel even includes a slide with GFI’s vision, nearly word-for-word: “Making alternative proteins no longer alternative.” Wow!

#6 GFI led an AIM for Climate Roadshow event focused on alt proteins

Nov. 10: GFI led an AIM for Climate Roadshow event at COP27, “Advancing Sustainable Protein Innovation Through Research,” in which we were joined by USDA senior policy advisor for climate Jaime Adams, FAIRR executive director Maria Lettini, Aleph Farms vice president of sustainability Lee Recht, and Compassion in World Farming’s US executive director Ben Williamson. We presented GFI’s two alt protein-focused AIM for Climate Sprints: “Advancing Sustainable Protein Innovation through Research” and “ESG Framework for Alternative Protein Products,”  which were launched that same week on the AIM for Climate website . During the session, USDA senior policy advisor advisor for climate, Jaime Adams, made clear the urgency: “We need alternative protein and we need it now. We don’t have 30 years and cannot come back year after year waiting for something to be done.”  On the same day, U.S. president Joe Biden was on the conference floor, declaring that the U.S. will meet its emissions targets by 2030, including cutting emissions by at least 30%.

#7 GFI Brazil delegates listen and learn from Brazilian Indigenous leaders

Nov. 12: GFI Brazil’s Mariana Bernal is the eye behind this shot, capturing a moment as she listened and learned at “The National Policy for Environmental and Territorial Management of Indigenous Lands and Indigenous Peoples of the Brazilian Amazon.” The knowledge shared during this session is especially relevant for Mariana and the GFI Brazil team, which spearheads the Biomes Program, a research project aimed at unlocking the potential to transform plant species native to the Amazon and Cerrado biomes into food ingredients that the alternative protein industry needs and that can create more sustainable sources of income for local communities. Understanding and learning from traditional ecological knowledge will be essential for the success of the program.

#8 GFI convened food sustainability experts and sustainable protein startups

Nov 11: On this day, GFI co-hosted an official UNFCCC side event, “Sustainable diets: fostering a just transition towards resilient food systems.” GFI brought together a globally diverse group of food sustainability experts and alternative proteins startups—ProVeg International, Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection, the World Food Programme, the Coalition of African Animal Welfare Organisations, Compassion in World Farming, FAIRR, Oatly, and fermentation company, Planetary—and secured their place on the COP27 agenda to (i) educate audiences on the potential for alternative proteins to reduce emissions, land, and water use and (ii) advocate for a “just transition” for the livestock sector.

#9 GFI Israel and Brazil collaborated for a panel on food security and alt proteins

Nov. 12: At a GFI Israel-led event at the Israeli pavilion, titled “Sustainable Proteins – Promoting Food Security Using Science & Policy”, GFI Israel’s associate director Ari Ben Dror presented an overview of alternative proteins’ impact on food security, while GFI Brazil’s Gus Guadagnini presented GFI’s work in Brazil and its potential in combatting food insecurity. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ari, where Gus was joined by representatives from Israeli government, industry and startup – the chief scientist of Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection Noga Kronfeld-Schor, Aleph Farms vice president of sustainability Lee Recht, and Strauss Group’s vice president of sustainability Shay Bialik.  

#10 Delegates enjoyed a cultivated chicken dinner from GOOD Meat

Nov 12: On the outskirts of the COP27 conference venue, the Four Seasons was the place where a handful of lucky participants had the chance to eat cultivated chicken shipped in from Singapore, compliments of California-based GOOD Meat. This marks the first time cultivated meat has ever been served as part of a global climate summit. The Singapore government and GFI APAC collaborated to ensure that cultivated meat could be imported into Egypt, where such products are not approved for commercial sale–yet.

Photo credit: GOOD Meat

#11 Conversation sparked between GFI APAC and global climate ministers

Nov 12: Over at the Singapore Pavilion, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu joined her Egyptian counterpart, Minister of Environment of the Arabic Republic of Egypt Dr. Yasmine Fouad, for a thoughtful conversation on national approaches to building food resilience, moderated by GFI APAC managing director Mirte Gosker. Novel foods have “much potential to supplement food security,” Minister Fu told Mirte, because their production “utilizes less land and has a smaller carbon footprint compared to conventional animal proteins.”

Photo credit: Singapore Pavilion at COP27

#12 Singapore Pavilion hosts all-star alt protein panel

Nov. 12: GFI APAC’s Mirte Gosker moderated a high-profile discussion titled “Alternative Proteins: Boosting Sustainable Food Security Resilience Through Science.” Singapore Food Agency branch head for risk assessment and communications Low Teng Yong joined Nurasa CFO Elaine Cheung, Growthwell Foods CEO Manuel Bossi, TurtleTree co-founder Max Rye, and Eat Just CEO Josh Tetrick for a lively conversation about regulatory, technical, and infrastructural hurdles that must be overcome to help alternative proteins reach their full potential.

#13 Sustainable food experts discuss how to feed 10 billion people by 2050

Nov. 12 : GFI senior associate director of international engagement Stephanie Von Stein joined Impossible Foods founder and CEO Pat Brown, Mosa Meat’s chief scientific officer Mark Post, and other sustainable food experts in a fireside chat at the UN Global Innovation Hub to discuss how alternative proteins can help ensure the nutrition and health of the world’s projected 10 billion people by 2050.

#14 Global climate leaders convene for minister-level cultivated meat dinner

Nov. 14: Jointly organized by GFI APAC, GOOD Meat, and the Singapore Pavilion, this historic dinner was hosted by Minister Grace Fu and drew current and former senior officials from 10 nations: Bhutan, Cambodia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, San Marino, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

#15 GFI highlights the inefficiencies of conventional meat production

Nov. 15: GFI Israel’s vice president of strategy and policy Alla Voldman opens the Food Systems Pavilion demo stage event, “Meat vs. Earth: Either or both?” She was joined by Aleph Farms co-founder and CEO Didier Toubia and Orbillion Bio co-founder and CTO Gabriel Levesque-Tremblay. In addition to learning about the basics of cultivated meat science and industry, session attendees were able to take an up-close look at Aleph Farms cultivated steak—one of the world’s latest and greatest climate innovations.

#16 Over 100 orgs call for updates to the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture

Nov. 15: GFI joined more than 100 global food organizations to sign an open letter calling on ministers and negotiators to raise the ambition and scope of the mandate for the successor of the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture —a landmark decision recognizing the unique potential of agriculture in tackling climate change. References to food systems approaches had been reduced and the original text stripped of critical interventions such as nutrition and dietary shifts, adaptation and mitigation work-plans and mentions of follow-up workshops—all of which had not been adequately addressed by the end of COP27. With a nod to what’s next, however, the joint statement urged “The Convention on Biological Diversity’s COP15 is another major milestone on the road to formally recognising food systems as a key part of global climate solutions and our work will continue across fields, forests, land, seas and boardrooms. We will not rest until food systems deliver for people, nature and the climate.”

#17 Ending deforestation by 2030 won’t be possible without reimagining protein

Nov 16: The GFI team was thrilled to serve as the lead host of Biodiversity Day at the Food Systems Pavilion. Our opening session featured World Resources Institute research director Nancy Harris making clear the “global land squeeze” underway with competing pressures for food and land. GFI’s own Bruce Friedrich then moderated an expert panel with representation from FAIRR, TurtleTree, Aleph Farms, and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all highlighting the important role that governments play in food systems transformation. As a result of COP26 negotiations, the United Nations set the ambitious and necessary goal of ending deforestation by 2030. This GFI-led session— “Making space for nature by changing how we produce meat and milk: The role of governments and policy”—pointed out that ending deforestation by 2030 won’t be possible without reimagining protein production. “Our food systems today are a major source of the problem. Alternative proteins are extremely important in creating food security and making us more resilient to global shocks in the supply of food,” stated Ambassador Gideon Behar, special envoy for climate change and sustainability, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “You [GFI] are showing us a path to come out of the climate crisis.”

#18 GFI brings groups working in food, global health, and biodiversity together

Nov. 16: The theme of GFI’s Biodiversity Day plenary was “Inviting everyone to the table: How a diversity of nature-inspired food solutions and stakeholders can enable a global recovery for biodiversity,” This was perhaps one of the most challenging, complex, and thought-provoking sessions that GFI and its partner organizations hosted at the Food Systems Pavilion. Expert moderator Dani Nierenberg prompted panelists with the need to advance cutting-edge agricultural solutions while also amplifying the work of indigenous communities, who have been doing this work (ecosystem stewardship) for tens of thousands of years. Rupa Marya, executive director of Deep Medicine Circle, shared her perspective on the impact of colonial capitalism on ecosystems and the dangers of an industrialized food system—even if that food system includes alternative proteins. She also called for reframing farmers as stewards of health, and echoed calls for bold policies that could bring about change rapidly, especially at the intersection of food, agriculture, and public health. Jane Madgwick, CEO of Wetlands International spoke to the at-risk water systems that underpin all food production, and the benefits of agroforestry systems that can simultaneously support biodiversity and food production. Discussions like these inspire us to continue connecting with, learning from, and engaging a diversity of people working across the entire value chain of our global food system, to find common ground solutions that do the most good possible.

#19 TNC experts join GFI Brasil to focus on zero-conversion agriculture

Nov. 16: The Nature Conservancy partnered with GFI to co-craft a ninety-minute session to appreciate the connections between biodiversity protection and sustainable food production. “Zero-conversion food: Feeding a growing world in ways that enable recovery of biodiverse lands and waters” highlighted powerful case studies of science-driven, traditional ecological knowledge-informed agricultural innovations in Argentina, Brazil, and The Bahamas. Deborah Bossio, The Nature’s Conservancy’s leading expert in food systems science, presented right alongside Vanessa Haley-Benjamin, an alternative protein scientist and PhD Student at Newcastle University studying cultivated mollusks.

#20 The University of Nigeria’s Alt Protein Project is represented at COP27

Nov. 16: GFI organized a panel discussion specifically to center voices of youth leaders working in food systems transformation. “Food system careers of the future: Insights and aspirations from youth leaders” featured Anchang Mumukom Maximus, co-founder and director of research of the University of Nigeria Alt Protein Project. Joining virtually, he reflected on his plans for the future: “In ten years, I see myself in the alternative protein field. I see myself, in the future, like a mentor, mentoring young scientists that want to take up careers in the alternative protein field.”

BONUS: GFI delegates take a beat to bond on the COP27 floor

At some point during the incredible two weeks of COP27: GFI Brazil’s Gus Guadagnini, expert selfie-taker, gathers members of the GFI delegation for a moment of team bonding and gratitude. Gus’s own words capture it best:  “I came to Egypt to represent The Good Food Institute Brasil in discussions of the international community on the climate crisis. For the first time, we have pavilions dedicated to discussing food systems and the theme of Alternative Proteins grows more and more. I’m still digesting everything I’ve learned by getting in touch with so many people, with their most varied cultures. At this point, I want to celebrate the space we had to show our solution: it is impossible to meet the goals of climate agreements without investing much more in the alternative protein industry. In a talk, I heard the phrase ‘We need to be a strong voice, but we also know how to shut up and listen.’ So I go into the week that begins: ready to be a strong voice for our field, while learning from so many amazing people who are here. Strength and humility, a combination that only does well.”

Working together toward a brighter food future

As we reflect on this global gathering—acknowledging all the ways in which the world is still falling short as well as the bright signs of solutions and progress—we find ourselves more committed than ever to a future where alternative proteins are no longer alternative.

Near the end of COP, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization issued a new report on bioeconomies , with a solid nod the role of food in humanity’s future: “In addition to climate mitigation gains, new food sources could reduce pressure on forests and land used for feed, support the preservation of biodiversity and planetary health, and contribute to preventing forms of malnutrition in developing countries.” Indeed.  

GFI’s work at COP27, as well as its year-round work with scientists, businesses, and policymakers across the global food system, is powered by philanthropy. Thanks to our donors, we are able to advance the alternative protein ecosystem by focusing on solutions that are global, tractable, and high-impact.

If you are interested in learning more about giving to GFI, please visit here or contact [email protected] .

The good food future

Your support powers our work in advancing alternative proteins as an essential solution to meet the world’s climate, global health, food security, and biodiversity goals. Let’s create the good food…

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Ingrid Eck develops strategies to strengthen the organization’s events and community-building function. Areas of expertise: event design and management, stakeholder engagement, coalition building

Mariana Bernal is the policy analyst for GFI Brazil. She works directly with government agents and public policymakers, to foster communication between the government and market agents and collaborate with local, global and multilateral players to ensure that the current regulatory framework allows for the full development of Brazil’s alternative protein sector.

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UNFCC COP 27 [Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Change Conference]

Egypt’s coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh is hosting the 27th session of the Conference of Parties (COP27) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 6 to 18 November 2022. Heads of State, ministers, and negotiators, along with climate activists, mayors, civil society representatives, and CEOs will converge together in one of the largest annual gatherings on climate action. There are nearly 45,000 registered participants from 195 member countries.

This topic is important for the UPSC exam from the environment and ecology perspective. In this article, you will find all the details of the UNFCC COP27 for the IAS exam .

UNFCCC COP 27

Confronted by the growing energy crisis, expanding greenhouse gas concentrations, and rising number of extreme weather events, COP27 seeks renewed solidarity among member countries, to deliver on the landmark Paris Agreement , for people and the planet. 

• COP27 will build on the outcomes of COP26 and deliver action on a series of issues that are critical to tackling the climate emergency. This would include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience, adapting to the inevitable climate change impacts, and delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries.
• This implies effective implementation of all the provisions of the Paris Agreement, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to keep the temperature goal within reach and prevent further negative impacts.
• COP27 must send the message, loud and clear, that be it war or peace, poverty or plenty, securing the world’s future comes at a price that only gets costlier every passing day.
• For more than a decade, wealthy nations have rejected official discussions on what is referred to as loss and damage, or funds provided to support poor countries in dealing with the consequences of global warming. However, the issue has been put on the formal agenda for the first time in COP27.

Highlights of the meeting:

• United Nations Secretary-General exclaimed that humanity faces a stark choice: work together now to cut emissions or condemn future generations to climate catastrophe.
• He also called for a pact between the richest and poorest countries of the world to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels and funding to ensure poorer countries can reduce emissions and cope with the impacts that have already occurred.
• It was reiterated that the planet is fast approaching tipping points that will certainly make the climate chaos irreversible.

COP 27 Agenda

Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda:

The Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda outlines 30 Adaptation Outcomes to build resilience for four billion people that are most vulnerable to climate, by 2030. Each outcome provides a global solution that can be adopted at a local level in response to local climate risks like rising climate hazards in the form of floods, heatwaves , droughts, etc. 

These outcomes together present the first comprehensive global plan for both State and non-State actors on a shared set of adaptation actions that are required 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 including enabling solutions for planning and finance.

• Climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture increases yields by 17% and reduces farm-level GHG emissions by 21%, without expansion of the agricultural frontier.
• Halve the share of food production lost, and per capita food waste (with respect to 2019).
• Healthy alternative proteins capture 15% of the global meat and seafood market.
• The global consumption of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, and legumes increase by 1.5 times.
• Protection of 45 million hectares (lands and inland waters), 2 billion hectares sustainable management, and 350 million hectares restoration of land securing legal indigenous and local communities with the use of nature-based solutions to improve water security and livelihoods.
• By 2025: financial institutions contribute to halting land conversion by eliminating commodity-driven deforestation from portfolios and tap into nature-based solutions investment opportunities of USD 354 billion/year needed by 2030.
• Water systems are smart, efficient, and robust with a reduction in water loss through leakage.
• Wastewater systems maximize recycling and reuse alongside natural wetland filtration with zero environmental spillage.
• Sustainable irrigation systems are implemented across 20% of global croplands to preserve water availability whilst supporting yield growth.
• 1 billion people have better design, construction, and access to finance to live in decent, safe homes.
• Smart and early warning systems reach 3 billion people.
• USD 1 trillion investment in nature-based solutions for communities in urban areas.
• Harden social infrastructure to ensure access to basic and essential community services.
• Increased use of waste as a secondary resource boosts the livelihoods of informal workers and reduces open waste burning by 60%, lowering pollution levels and improving the health of local communities.
• Invest USD 4 billion to secure the future of 15 million hectares of mangroves globally through collective action on halting mangrove loss, restoring half of the recent losses, doubling the protection of mangroves globally, and ensuring sustainable long-term finance for all existing mangroves.
• Halt loss, protect and restore coral reefs to support people in tropical communities.
• Halt loss, protect, and restore seagrass, marshes, and kelp forests to support people in temperate communities.
• The urban coastline is protected by grey and hybrid solutions.
• A diverse set of energy generation sources enable affordable access to electricity for 679 million unconnected people and higher quality access for 1 billion underserved people through climate-resilient energy systems.
• 4 billion people with access to clean cooking through at least USD 10 billion/year in innovative finance for clean cooking action worldwide.
• 585 GW of battery storage capacity and extension of transmission and distribution networks enable decentralized generation and consumption.
• 2 billion people access low-cost, clean vehicles and mobility solutions through the expansion of affordable public and private transport services.
• Transport infrastructure is resilient to climate hazards through the adoption of new technology, design, and materials.
• 10,000 cities and 100 regional governments have evidence-based, actionable adaptation plans.
• 2,000 of the world’s largest companies develop actionable adaptation plans.
• Universal access to the tools and information required to integrate climate risks into decision-making from local to global levels.
• Operationalization of National Adaptation Plans and Locally-Led Principles, enabling adaptation in a country-driven localized, and consultative manner.
• The private sector integrates physical climate risks into investment decisions and continues to innovate mechanisms for financing adaptation and resilience so as to enable the mobilization of the USD 140 to USD 300 billion that will be needed across both public and private sources.
• Public finance actors increase the provision of climate finance and allocate 50% of climate funds to adaptation and resilience.
• The global property and casualty insurance sector has an industry capabilities framework, actively supports project implementation, and institutionalizes a longer-term industry approach to climate adaptation.

Major initiatives announced in the COP 27 meeting:

• The President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe has proposed to set up an international climate change university in Sri Lanka, with an ancillary institution in the Maldives. It was reiterated that Sri Lanka and Maldives as island nations are vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.
• The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt have struck a deal on the sidelines of the summit to develop one of the world’s largest wind farms.
• Once completed, the 10 GW onshore wind project in Egypt will produce approximately 47,790 GWh of clean energy annually. This would offset nearly 9% (23.8 million tonnes) of Egypt’s current carbon dioxide emissions.

India’s Participation in COP27:

• The Environment Minister of India Shri Bhupender Yadav is leading the Indian delegation to COP-27.
• India would press developed countries to fulfil their commitment to delivering $100 billion of climate finance annually.
• It would also press for enhanced transparency and more institutional mechanisms to make these funds available 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

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COP27: What you need to know about this year’s big UN Climate Conference

The Secretary-General has said COP27 must deliver a “down-payment” on climate solutions that match the scale of the problem , so, will leaders deliver?

What’s the story with all these COPS?

The COPs are the biggest and most important annual climate-related conferences on the planet.

In 1992, the UN organised the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in which the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) was adopted and its coordinating agency - what we know now as the UN Climate Change secretariat - was put into place.

In this treaty, nations agreed to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous interference from human activity on the climate system”. So far, 197 different parties have signed it.

Since 1994, when the treaty entered into force, every year the UN has been bringing together almost every country on earth for global climate summits or “COPs”, which stands for ‘Conference of the Parties’.

During these meetings, nations have negotiated various extensions of the original treaty to establish legally binding limits on emissions, for example, the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, in which all countries of the world agreed to step up efforts to try and limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures, and boost climate action financing.

This year marks the 27 th annual summit, or COP27.

How is COP27 different from the other COPs?

Last year’s COP26, which marked five years since the signing of the Paris Agreement (one year was skipped because of the COVID pandemic), culminated in the Glasgow Climate Pact , which kept the goal of curbing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius alive, but “with a weak pulse”, as the then UK Presidency declared.

Advancements were made to make the Paris Agreement fully operational, by finalizing the details for its practical implementation, also known as the Paris Rulebook.

At COP26 countries agreed to deliver stronger commitments this year, including updated national plans with more ambitious targets. However, only 23 out of 193 countries have submitted their plans to the UN so far.

Glasgow also saw many pledges made inside and outside the negotiation rooms regarding net-zero commitments, forests protection and climate finance, among many other issues.

According to the Presidential vision statement, COP27 will be about moving from negotiations, and “planning for implementation” for all these promises and pledges made.

Egypt has called for full, timely, inclusive, and at-scale action on the ground.

According to experts, besides reviewing how to implement the Paris Rulebook , the conference will also see negotiations regarding some points that remained inconclusive after Glasgow.

These issues include “loss and damage” financing so that countries at the frontlines of the crisis can deal with the consequences of climate change that go beyond what they can adapt to, and the fulfilment of the promise of $100 billion every year from adaptation finance, from developed nations, to low-income countries.

The negotiations will also include technical discussions, for example, to specify the way in which nations should practically measure their emissions so there’s a level playing field for everyone.

All these discussions will pave the way for the first Global Stocktake at COP28, which in 2023 will assess the global collective progress on mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation of the Paris Agreement.

So, what are the big objectives this time?

1. mitigation: how are countries reducing their emissions.

Climate Change Mitigation refers to efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases. Mitigation can mean using new technologies and renewable energy sources, making older equipment more energy efficient, or changing management practices or consumer behaviour.

Countries are expected to show how they are planning to implement the Glasgow pact call , to review their climate plans and create a work programme related to mitigation.

This means presenting more ambitious 2030 emissions targets, since UN Climate Change has said that current plans are still not enough to avoid catastrophic warming.

2. Adaptation: how are countries going to adapt and help others do the same?

Climate change is here. Beyond doing everything we can to cut emissions and slow the pace of global warming, countries must also adapt to climate consequences so that they can protect their citizens.

The fallout varies depending on location. It might mean the risk of more fires or floods, droughts, hotter or colder days or sea-level rise.

At COP26, delegates adopted a work programme on the global goal of adaptation established in the Paris Agreement .

The plan was put in place to equip communities and countries with the knowledge and tools to ensure that adaptation actions they take, are indeed moving the world towards a more climate-resilient future.

The COP27 Presidency expects nations to capture and assess their progress toward enhancing resilience and helping the most vulnerable communities. This means countries making more detailed and ambitious commitments in the adaptation components of their national climate plans.

Last year, developed countries agreed to at least double finance for adaptation, and many stakeholders are calling for even greater levels of adaptation funding to match the amounts that are now being spent on mitigation, as established in the Paris Agreement. This will definitely be a big conversation topic at Sharm el-Sheikh.

UNFCCC is clear that to respond to the present and future climate risks it is necessary to significantly increase the scale of adaptation finance, from all sources – public and private sources. All players must come on board – governments, financial institutions, and the private sector.

3. Climate Finance: the elephant that never leaves the negotiation room

Climate finance will be a top theme once again at COP27, many finance-related discussions are already on the agenda, with developing countries making a loud call for developed countries to reassure sufficient and adequate financial support, particularly to the most vulnerable.

We will probably hear a lot about the yearly $100 billion promise by developed nations that isn’t being delivered. In 2009 in Copenhagen, rich countries committed to this financing, but official reports still show that this target is being missed. Experts expect COP27 to actually make this pledge a reality finally, in 2023.

The Egyptian Presidency aims to follow up on this and other commitments and pledges made in previous COPs.

What’s this ‘Loss and Damage’ issue we hear so much about?

Climate change, through extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, desertification and rising sea levels, causes costly damage to countries.

Because the intensification of these otherwise “natural disasters” is being caused by the rise in greenhouse gas emissions, mostly from rich industrialised countries, developing countries - often the most affected - argue that they should receive compensation.

Denmark made headlines during the latest high-level week of the UN General Assembly after being the first country to announce that it will give $13 million to developing countries that have suffered damage due to climate change.

The issue of these payments, known as “loss and damage” will be more than likely a big topic of discussion at COP27, even when it hasn’t been put officially on the agenda yet.

The group of the 77 and China (which essentially includes all developing nations) has requested to add it to the agenda, which will require consensus across all countries on the first day of the talks.

To date, there have been discussions around establishing a  Loss and Damage fund , but nothing concrete. Experts such as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate, Ian Fry, are hoping to build further momentum and “get it done”.

“There are major developed countries that are quite concerned about it and looking at this issue from the perspective of what the polluter pays. Now, the countries most affected by climate change and suffering the costs are having to deal with those costs themselves.

“So, it's time the big countries, the major emitters, stood up and said, ‘we've got to do something, we've got to make a contribution to these vulnerable countries’”, he told UN News during a recent interview .

How is the war in Ukraine affecting all this?

According to Ilana Seid, Permanent Representative of Palau to the United Nations, and climate negotiator, this COP is going to be “confusing” given the current sociopolitical landscape and energy crisis.

“The war in Ukraine happened, so there are so many things that so many countries agreed to, and now they can’t do. As a result of the war, the landscape has shifted”, she explained.

Indeed, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused a global inflation, energy, food and supply chain crisis. Countries such as Germany have had to scale back on their climate goals in the short term, while the historical China-US Climate Working Group announced in Glasgow has now been suspended.

COP27 will most likely see a setback in the pledges and commitments some countries did last year.

However, Special Rapporteur Ian Fry considers that the war could also be a “wake-up call” for nations to become self-sufficient in energy.

He argues that the cheapest way to do this is through renewables, which are key to reducing emissions.

“We're seeing Portugal moving towards 100 per cent renewable, we know Denmark is also doing that, and I think that will drive other countries to see the need to be renewable and energy self-sufficient”, he told UN News.

Will civil society participate at COP, or just delegates?

The main event will be held at the Sharm el-Sheikh International Convention Centre, from 6-18 November.

So far, there are over 30,000 people registered to attend representing governments, businesses, NGOs, and civil society groups.

The 197 Parties to the UNFCCC treaty, often get in groups or “blocs”, to negotiate together such as the G77 and China, the Africa Group, the Least Developed Countries, the Umbrella Forum, the Small Island Developing States, and the Independent Alliance of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The negotiations also include observers, which have no formal part in them but make interventions and help maintain transparency. Observers include United Nations agencies, intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, faith-based groups, and the press.

But besides the official negotiations, there will be conference rooms, a pavilion section, and thousands of side events happening, divided over thematic days,

This year’s themes are: Finance, Science, Youth & Future Generations, Decarbonization, Adaptation & Agriculture, Gender, Water, Ace & Civil Society, Energy, Biodiversity and Solutions (the newest theme this COP).

As usual, the conference will happen in two zones – The Blue Zone and the Green Zone, which this year are located right across from each other.

The Blue Zone is a UN-managed space where negotiations are hosted and, to enter, all attendees must be credited by the UNFCCC Secretariat. 

This year there will be 156 pavilions inside the Blue Zone, double the amount at Glasgow. Many UN agencies, countries and regions will be represented, and there will also be for the first time a Youth and an Agrifood pavilion.

The Green Zone is managed by the Egyptian Government and open to the registered public. It will include events, exhibitions, workshops and talks to promote dialogue, awareness, education, and commitment on climate action.

According to the Presidency, the Green Zone will be the platform where the business community, youth, civil and indigenous societies, academia, artists and fashion communities from all over the world can express themselves and their voices can be heard.

This year, the Green Zone will also include a special “protest zone”, and a huge outdoor lounge and terrace space.

This story was originally published on UN News . 

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Essay Sample on Why I Want to Be a Police Officer

When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming a police officer. As I grew older, my dream of becoming an officer never faded away; in fact, it only grew stronger. Being a police officer is more than just enforcing the law and maintaining order in society; it’s about being part of something bigger and making a difference in people’s lives. In this essay, which is an example of custom writing , I will explain why I want to be a police officer and how my passion for this job will help me become successful at it. 

Becoming a Police Officer: Exploring My Aspirations to Be a Police Officer 

The main reason why I want to become a police officer is that I have always wanted to make a difference in the world. The idea of being able to help people in need and bring justice to those who deserve it has always been appealing to me. Furthermore, as an officer, you are given the opportunity to work with different communities and build relationships with them while still doing your job effectively. 

In addition to wanting to make a difference and build relationships with the community, I am driven by the challenge that comes with policing. Police work is complex and ever-changing, so officers must stay on their toes and be prepared for anything they may encounter out on the streets. This means having quick thinking skills, being able to adapt quickly, staying calm under pressure, and having excellent problem-solving abilities. All these traits are necessary for success as an officer, which makes the job both challenging and exciting for me at the same time. 

Why Pursue Law Enforcement? 

Law enforcement requires immense dedication and commitment, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. As a police officer, I would have the opportunity to make a significant impact on people’s lives. Every day would bring new opportunities to help people in need, bring criminals to justice, and serve my community. It is an incredibly honorable profession that requires an individual with strong moral principles and courage. 

What Does It Take? 

The road to becoming a police officer is not easy – it requires dedication, discipline, hard work, and sacrifice. It involves mastering both physical tasks such as firearms training, as well as mental tasks such as understanding different laws and regulations about policing. Training does not end when you are hired; it is continuous throughout your career so that you can stay up-to-date with the latest tactics and technologies used in law enforcement today. This means putting in long hours studying law books or practicing shooting with firearms on the range regularly. 

Making Sacrifices for Others 

To my mind, being a police officer also involves making sacrifices – both physically and mentally – for the greater good of protecting others. This means sacrificing time spent with family or friends because you are working extra shifts, or going above and beyond your job duties because someone needs help urgently. It also involves sacrificing safety while responding to dangerous situations, or even putting your life on the line while apprehending criminals or rescuing victims from harm’s way. All of these require tremendous courage, which is why I am eager to pursue this path despite any potential risks associated with it.  

My Qualifications for Becoming a Police Officer 

I believe I have the qualities necessary for becoming an excellent police officer. First of all, I am physically fit – something that is essential for any law enforcement job. Moreover, my academic record speaks for itself; in college, I earned top marks in various criminal justice classes – another key requirement of becoming a police officer. Finally, my volunteer experience has helped me develop strong interpersonal skills, which will come in handy when interacting with citizens on the streets or during investigations. 

My Plan For Achieving My Goal 

Now that I have outlined my qualifications for becoming a police officer, it’s time to talk about how I plan on achieving this goal. 

First of all, I am currently enrolled in an academy program that teaches students the basics of law enforcement such as self-defense tactics and firearms safety protocols. After graduating from the academy program with honors, I hope to join a local law enforcement agency where I can gain hands-on experience as well as obtain certifications related to crime scene investigation techniques and other areas of policing work.  

Ultimately, my mission is clear: become the best possible police officer I can be so that I can serve the public with integrity and honor while protecting those who need help most!  

Becoming a police officer requires more than just desire; it demands dedication, discipline, sacrifice, courage, and skill sets related to both physical abilities like firearms training as well as mental abilities like understanding complex laws and regulations about policing. 

Despite any potential risks involved in this profession, I am confident I could make an incredible impact on my community by helping those in need while bringing criminals to justice – all while doing something that brings me great satisfaction each day! That is why I want to be a police officer!

Writing a Good Police Officer Essay 

Writing an essay about a police officer’s work can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right approach and some helpful tips, you can craft a college personal statement essay   that will really stand out. Let’s take a look at what it takes to write a great police officer essay.

Planning Your Essay 

Before you start writing your essay, take some time to plan out exactly what you want to say. This will help ensure that your ideas are organized and coherent. Start by making a list of key points that you want to cover in your essay. This might include topics such as why you’re interested in becoming a police officer, what qualities make you suitable for the role, and how your experience has prepared you for this position. 

Write from Your Heart 

Your essay should reflect your passion for becoming a police officer and should showcase your commitment to serving others. Talk about why you want to join the force—is it because you want to protect citizens or because you believe in justice? What have been some of your most meaningful experiences (i.e., volunteering, internships) that have made you even more determined?

Use Simple Language

When writing your police officer essay, remember that clarity is key. Avoid using overly complex language or long-winded sentences; instead, focus on succinctly conveying your ideas with clear language and precise wording.

Choosing a career in law enforcement is a challenging and rewarding decision. It is not just a job, but a calling to serve and protect your community. In this table, we will outline some of the top reasons why individuals may choose to become police officers.

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An Overview of the COP 28 Climate Talks

• December 23, 2023
• Climate Change , Daily Write-Ups , Featured

The following article, “ An Overview of the COP 28 Climate Talks “, is written by Sara Khan , a student of Sir Syed Kazim Ali . Moreover, the article is written on the same pattern, taught by Sir to his students, scoring the highest marks in compulsory subjects for years. Sir Kazim has uploaded his students’ solved past paper questions so other thousands of aspirants can understand how to crack a topic or question, how to write relevantly, what coherence is, and how to include and connect ideas, opinions, and suggestions to score the maximum.

1- Introduction 2- Understanding the terms “COP” and “COP 28” 3- Understanding the significance of the COP 28

4- Rundown of the critical outcomes of the COP 28 climate talks

• Case in Point: To elaborate on water security, ecosystem regeneration, and other climate-related issues, the target has been set to achieve the demands by 2030.
• Case in point: The COP text has emphasized limiting temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and achieving net zero by 2050.    
• Case in point: The wealthy nations pledged at the conference to support the affected nations; the funds have totalled over 650 million dollars.
• Case in point: Carbon markets help foster a reduction in emissions, which is cost-effective.

5- Suggestions of the COP 28

• Cases in point: Transition away from fossil fuels     
• Climate resilient farming techniques

6- Critical Analysis 7- Conclusion

Answer to the Question

Introduction.

COP 28, a remarkable global conference in the realm of climate change, is significantly known as the 28th conference of the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), having taken place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 30th November to 13th December 2023. The focal points of the largest conference in history are agriculture and food, and the main focus was on the Global Stock take – the temperature monitoring asserted in the Paris Agreement. To elaborate on key decisions at the conference, the summit has successfully brought all member countries to one table regarding decisions, including slashing energy emissions by 2030, creating a comprehensive transformation of climate finance, and protecting the most vulnerable communities, for they protect 80 per cent of the world’s biodiversity. In summary, the meeting has concluded with practical and ambitious solutions, promising the complete phase-out of fossil fuels. The article opens the window to the key outcomes of the COP 28 climate talks and its way forward.

Understanding the terms “COP” and “COP 28”

Since the Rio Summit and the launch of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the member countries have held meetings named Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP). The parties meet yearly to review the progress of all the member countries and decide what to do next. Besides, the countries gather to regulate responsibilities and assess climate-related measures. Meanwhile, the COP 28 means the 28th conference of the parties of the UNFCCC. It was held in Dubai, UAE, under Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber’s presidency, where the governments talked about how to tackle and prepare for the repercussions of climate change.

Understanding the significance of the COP28

COP 28 holds special significance as it is the first-ever conference marking the conclusion of the first Global Stock take – a comprehensive review of the progress and a five-yearly temperature check, as stated under Article 14 of the Paris Agreement. As the year 2022 has been enlisted as the hottest year on record, the COP 28 Presidency pledges to work on the goal of keeping the temperature increase to 1.5 oC above the pre-industrial levels. Sustainable agriculture was also part of the agenda at COP 28, including innovation and ideas on how to grow food and increase crop yield.

Rundown of the critical outcomes of the COP28 climate talks

Standardizing carbon markets .

Another area of concern at the conference was carbon markets. Carbon markets are systems where countries, to meet their climate targets, buy and sell carbon credits showing a reduction of greenhouse gases. These markets help foster a reduction in emissions, which are cost-effective but have some credibility concerns. Nevertheless, no agreement was reached at this point in this regard as no clear answers were given. So, questions regarding this are supposed to be addressed in the COP 29. And for those in these markets, this outcome of loopholes is highly disturbing and disappointing. In short, the topic of carbon markets was a matter of discussion at the summit in Dubai.

Supporting vulnerable nations

The COP 28 achieved a milestone as it agreed to support the most affected nations facing the disastrous impacts of climate change. The conference talked about several areas. For instance, addressing loopholes in climate information and data and boosting human mobility by ensuring safe and stately relocation or migration. To illustrate, the wealthy and developed nations pledged at the conference to support this fund, and the fund totalled over 650 million dollars. In case of loss and damage, safe displacement will be granted. For this purpose, a diverse board will be established; however, the World Bank will initially manage or supervise this fund. Conclusively, this agreement seems to be a landmark achievement at COP 28.

Doubling finance for adaptation goal

At the conference, another area under consideration was doubling the finance for adaptation to the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, it was a theme of COP 27 to shift the world’s focus towards existing climate changes and support numerous strategies to adapt, assess, and monitor the changes happening. The same debate was dragged into the summit in Dubai this year. To elaborate, the target has been set to achieve water security, ecosystem regeneration, and other climate-related issues by 2030. No doubt, the target is set, and hopes to see the adaptation finance gap filling up are high. Hence, surging in the adaptation finance is an achievement of the COP 28.

Scrutinizing Global Stock take

This year’s COP also focused well on the Global Stock take, making it a hot topic at the conference. The stakeholders talked about the reductions in emissions and fossil fuels. Moreover, it held the developed nations accountable for the mushrooming of emissions; the COP text emphasized the goals of limiting temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and achieving net zero by 2050 . It called on nations to put an end to the fossil fuel era, and it was also explicit that the countries should try to turn down the CO 2 emissions at the global level by 2030. To conclude, it would be fair enough to say that the Global Stocktake was the most inspected topic at COP 28.

Suggestions of the COP 28

Like the previous COPs, this year’s conference in Dubai also brings about some hopes, for it leaves a little sparkle in giving resolutions. Enlisting the way forward, transition away from fossil fuels, climate resilient farming techniques, efficient assessment and adaptation plans for climate impacts, and structured water management are all the hopes associated with the recent year’s COP. The world is now looking forward to COP29, as it will help more to make plans and goals crystal clear before the nations. Also, it vows to reduce emissions and overall global warming. To summarize, the COP28 appears to be a blessing in disguise in the contemporary climate-affected times. 

Critical Analysis

A keen analysis of the conference reveals that the COP 28 has devised various goals and promises. It has emphasized reducing fossil fuel emissions, the global stocktake, and loss and damage. However, there are also loopholes, for various areas are left unaddressed or partially addressed. Dedication to close the adaptation finance gap has not been completely promised yet. Similarly, additional information on financing targets has not been discussed; as far as the area of carbon markets is concerned, there seems to be no agreement that claims the permanent reduction in greenhouse gases. It means there is a lot left to be discussed at the COP 29. Therefore, the COP 28 brings both suggestions and challenges with it.

Ringing down the curtain, the COP 28 is described as the “beginning of an end” of the fossil fuel era. As the conference focuses on the Global Stocktake, the review process for nations’ progress regarding climate goals is strengthened. In addition, it marks a supporting hand for the nations that are at risk, the victims of climate change. It focused on ameliorating climate finance and adaptation finance simultaneously. Nonetheless, it undoubtedly has lacked in some areas as well. Still, it has emerged on the sky at the right time as it is the need of the hour to negotiate on the emerging issue of climate change.

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Vernal police officer and suspect hospitalized after shooting

The officer drove himself to the hospital before being flown to the wasatch front for further treatment..

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A Vernal police officer is being treated at a Wasatch Front hospital after being shot "multiple times" April 27, 2024, according to police. The suspect is was also shot and is hospitalized.

A Vernal police officer and local resident are both being treated for gunshot wounds at Wasatch Front hospitals after shooting each other late Saturday night.

Vernal Police and the Uintah County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of an intoxicated man threatening a neighbor with a firearm, according to a release posted to Facebook by the Sheriff’s Office. Police allege the man shot at officers and their vehicles when they arrived and a Vernal City Police Officer was shot “multiple times” trying to get out of his car.

Police returned fire, according to the release, and shot the suspect, who then “briefly fled” but was arrested nearby shortly after.

The Vernal officer drove himself to a local hospital, according to the Sheriff’s Department. He and the suspect were both flown to hospitals on the Wasatch Front for further treatment.

A sheriff deputy was also treated for minor injuries and released.

The Utah State Bureau of Investigations is taking over the investigation, according to the release.

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Critic’s Notebook

The Comfortable Problem of Mid TV

It’s got a great cast. It looks cinematic. It’s, um … fine. And it’s everywhere.

Credit... Alex Merto

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By James Poniewozik

• April 27, 2024

A few years ago, “Atlanta” and “PEN15” were teaching TV new tricks.

In “Atlanta,” Donald Glover sketched a funhouse-mirror image of Black experience in America (and outside it), telling stories set in and around the hip-hop business with an unsettling, comic-surreal language. In “PEN15,” Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle created a minutely observed, universal-yet-specific picture of adolescent awkwardness.

In February, Glover and Erskine returned in the action thriller “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” on Amazon Prime Video. It’s … fine? A takeoff on the 2005 film , it updates the story of a married duo of spies by imagining the espionage business as gig work. The stars have chemistry and charisma; the series avails itself of an impressive cast of guest stars and delectable Italian shooting locations. It’s breezy and goes down easy. I watched several episodes on a recent long-haul flight and they helped the hours pass.

But I would never have wasted an episode of “Atlanta” or “PEN15” on in-flight entertainment. The work was too good, the nuances too fine, to lose a line of dialogue to engine noise.

I do not mean to single out Glover and Erskine here. They are not alone — far from it. Keri Russell, a ruthless and complicated Russian spy in “The Americans,” is now in “The Diplomat,” a forgettably fun dramedy. Natasha Lyonne, of the provocative “Orange Is the New Black” and the psychotropic “Russian Doll,” now plays a retro-revamped Columbo figure in “Poker Face.” Idris Elba, once the macroeconomics-student gangster Stringer Bell in “The Wire,” more recently starred in “Hijack,” a by-the-numbers airplane thriller.

I’ve watched all of these shows. They’re not bad. They’re simply … mid. Which is what makes them, frustratingly, as emblematic of the current moment in TV as their stars’ previous shows were of the ambitions of the past.

What we have now is a profusion of well-cast, sleekly produced competence. We have tasteful remakes of familiar titles. We have the evidence of healthy budgets spent on impressive locations. We have good-enough new shows that resemble great old ones.

We have entered the golden age of Mid TV.

LET ME SAY UP FRONT: This is not an essay about how bad TV is today. Just the opposite. There is little truly bad high-profile television made anymore. As I wrote last year , these days it takes a special confluence of celebrity pull and network resources to make a dud like HBO’s “The Idol.” When we encounter a majestic prize turkey like this in the wild, we almost don’t know what to think. Who did this? How did this get past quality control?

What we have today instead is something less awful but in a way more sad: The willingness to retreat, to settle, to trade the ambitious for the dependable.

People who grew up in the three-broadcast-network era — we knew from bad TV. We watched it and sometimes even loved it. (ABC’s 1977 comedy “The San Pedro Beach Bums” was one of TV’s biggest punchlines, and its cancellation was one of the first heartbreaks of my young life.) But the rise of cable transformed both the business and the art of television, as the likes of HBO, FX and AMC took risks and offered creators freedom in order to stand out.

It worked — so well, in fact, that eventually the truism that TV was garbage was replaced by the truism that TV was the new literature, or cinema, or maybe even religion. A New York Times critic heralded “The Sopranos” as possibly the greatest work of pop culture in a quarter century. “Deadwood” was likened to Shakespeare, “The Wire” to Dickens, “Mad Men” to Cheever. People deconstructed “Lost” and argued over “Girls.” TV’s auteurs bestrode the cultural conversation like the easy riders and raging bulls of film in the 1970s.

For a good two decades now, it’s been bien-pensant wisdom that TV could be good — no, not just good. Original. Provocative. Important.

TV was so highly acclaimed for so long that we were like the frog in boiling water, but in reverse. The medium became lukewarm so gradually that you might not even have noticed.

The streaming era at first promised more innovation, supercharged and superfunded, and for a while that’s what we got. Eager to establish a catalog of original programming, Netflix underwrote experiments like “Orange Is the New Black,” “BoJack Horseman” and “Sense8.” Not everything worked, and what did work could be inconsistent, but there was a sense of opportunity and possibility.

But another thing happened as well. The conferral of status (and money) on TV meant that there was a lot more talent available. Doing TV was no longer a demotion, and you could buy an instant sense of importance by hiring stars. Netflix’s early hit “House of Cards” was a harbinger, a pot of boiling ham given the aura of prestige with the casting of a pre-scandal Kevin Spacey.

Also, more streamers — Netflix was joined by Amazon, Hulu and sundry Maxes and Pluses — simply meant more TV. More TV was better in some ways: It meant room for new voices and untold stories, more dice to roll. But it also created a sense of overload. In a seemingly infinite sea of story, how would viewers find shows, and shows get found?

More and more often, they’d get found through the algorithm, whose purpose is to serve up new versions of the last thing you watched. Increasingly, the best way to get noticed was with something people already recognized: A familiar title, formula or franchise.

Disney+’s Marvel Cinematic Universe series are too polished to be awful or tacky — just compare them to the threadbare comic-book dramas of the ’70s and ’80s — but they are too bound by the rules and needs of the larger megaproperty to take creative leaps. (It’s noteworthy that the first of these series, “WandaVision,” remains the one significant exception.) Meanwhile, Netflix’s “Ozark” showed that you could ask, “What if ChatGPT rewrote ‘Breaking Bad’?” and enough people would embrace the result as if it were “Breaking Bad.”

Put these two forces together — a rising level of talent and production competence on the one hand, the pressure to deliver versions of something viewers already like on the other hand — and what do you get? You get a whole lot of Mid.

MID IS NOT the mediocre TV of the past. It’s more upscale. It is the aesthetic equivalent of an Airbnb “modern farmhouse” renovation, or the identical hipster cafe found in medium-sized cities all over the planet. It’s nice! The furniture is tasteful, they’re playing Khruangbin on the speakers, the shade-grown coffee is an improvement on the steaming mug of motor oil you’d have settled for a few decades ago.

If comparing TV to fast-casual dining is an insulting analogy, in my defense I only borrowed it. A New Yorker profile last year quoted a Netflix executive describing the platform’s ideal show as a “gourmet cheeseburger.”

I’m not going to lie, I enjoy a gourmet cheeseburger. Caramelize some onions, lay on a slice of artisanal American cheese and I’m happy. But at heart, the sales pitch for that cheeseburger is no different from that for a Big Mac: You know what you’re going to get.

And it’s not only Netflix plating this up. Look at the star-packed algorithm bait we’ve seen over the past year or so. There’s “Masters of the Air,” a well-credentialed, superfluous expansion to the World War II-verse of “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific.” (Liked those? Watch this next!) “Apples Never Fall,” a room-temperature adaptation of another Liane Moriarty novel. (Liked “Big Little Lies”? Watch this next!) “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans,” a fall-from-grace biopic cast to the hilt and padded to the limit. (Liked “Fosse/Verdon”? Watch this next!).

These shows don’t have what it takes to be truly bad. Making honestly bad TV requires a mercenary, Barnumesque disregard for taste, or a hellbent willingness to take the kind of gamble that can turn into disaster.

Mid TV, on the other hand, almost can’t be bad for some of the same reasons that keep it from being great. It’s often an echo of the last generation of breakthrough TV (so the highs and lows of “Game of Thrones” are succeeded by the faithful adequacy of “House of the Dragon” ). Or it’s made by professionals who know how to make TV too well, and therefore miss a prerequisite of making great art, which is training yourself to forget how the thing was ever done and thus coming up with your own way of doing it.

Mid is not a strict genre with a universal definition. But it’s what you get when you raise TV’s production values and lower its ambitions. It reminds you a little of something you once liked a lot. It substitutes great casting for great ideas. (You really liked the star in that other thing! You can’t believe they got Meryl Streep !)

Mid is based on a well-known book or movie or murder. Mid looks great on a big screen. (Though for some reason everything looks blue .) Mid was shot on location in multiple countries. Mid probably could have been a couple episodes shorter. Mid is fine, though. It’s good enough.

Above all, Mid is easy. It’s not dumb easy — it shows evidence that its writers have read books. But the story beats are familiar. Plot points and themes are repeated. You don’t have to immerse yourself single-mindedly the way you might have with, say, “The Wire.” It is prestige TV that you can fold laundry to.

And let’s be fair, it makes plenty of people happy. Any honest critic has to recognize that people for whom TV-watching is not work do not always want to work at watching TV. (See, for instance, the unlikely resurgence on Netflix of “Suits,” that watchable avatar of 2010s basic-cable Mid.) I get it. TV critics have laundry to fold, too.

There may also be economic reasons to prefer good-enough TV. As more people drop cable TV for streaming, their incentives change. With cable you bought a package of channels, many of which you would never watch, but any of which you might .

Each streaming platform, on the other hand, requires a separate purchase decision , and they add up. You might well choose a service that has plenty of shows you’d be willing to watch rather than one with a single show that you must watch.

So where HBO used to boast that it was “not TV,” modern streamers send the message, “We’ll give you a whole lot of TV.” It can seem like their chief goal is less to produce standout shows than to produce a lot of good-looking thumbnails.

There even is a growing idea that a new Golden Age is emerging, with a new Midas. Apple TV+, the home of “Ted Lasso” and “The Morning Show,” has been deemed, by more than one commentator, “the new HBO.”

Apple TV+ is not HBO. At least not in the sense of what made HBO HBO in the 2000s, when it was revolutionizing TV and challenging viewers. (And HBO wasn’t alone in being “HBO” in this sense: It had company in FX, AMC, Showtime and occasionally Syfy and others.)

But Apple TV+ just might be the HBO of Mid.

Broadly generalizing, Apple’s strategy has been to open its checkbook and sign up A-list names — Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, M. Night Shyamalan — to make broadly palatable, uncontroversial shows. (This did not work out too well with Jon Stewart .) According to reports around its founding, the Apple chief Tim Cook was concerned that the service not go overboard with violence, profanity and nudity — not exactly the mission statement of somebody looking to reopen the Bada Bing.

Apple’s investment bought something. Its shows feel professional. They look like premium products that no one skimped on. “Palm Royale” has a loaded cast (Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern, Carol Burnett[!]) and an attention to period detail that recalls “Mad Men.” But its class farce is toothless, its atmosphere of ’60s cultural ferment warmed over. Comedies like “Shrinking” and “Platonic” and “Loot” are more nice than funny, dramas like “Constellation,” “The New Look” and “Manhunt” classy but inert.

These are shows built like iPhones — sleek, rounded, with no edges you can cut yourself on.

THERE IS, OF COURSE, great and innovative TV on Apple as well. I’m dying to see another season of the brain-bending sci-fi thriller “Severance,” and its first crop of shows included the alternative space-race history “For All Mankind” and the screwball literary history “Dickinson.”

It is exceptions like these series that make me an optimist about TV long-term. Even in the face of pressures and incentives to aim for the middle, creativity wants to find a way. Just a year ago, I was writing about wild, adventurous series like “Beef,” “Reservation Dogs,” “Mrs. Davis” and “I’m a Virgo.” (This year, two of the best new dramas so far are a remake of “Shogun” and a re-adaptation of “The Talented Mr. Ripley.”)

But the bulk of TV right now — the packing peanuts that fill up the space between “The Bear” and “FBoy Island” — feels flattened out in the broad middle. No, not flattened: Smoothed. That may be the biggest but most intangible defining feature of Mid. It’s friction-free. It has an A.I.-like, uncanny luster, like the too-sharp motion-smoothing effect that you have to turn off when you buy a new flat-screen.

TV is far from broken, but it does feel like someone needs to go in and tweak the settings. The price of reliability, competence and algorithm-friendliness is losing the sense of surprise — the unmoored feeling you get, from innovations like “Fleabag” and “Watchmen” and “I May Destroy You,” of being thrown into an unpredictable alien universe.

I don’t think it’s only critics and TV snobs who want this, either. “The Sopranos” and “Twin Peaks” were revolutionary and rewarded close viewing, but they were also popular. Even if you watch TV as escapism, how much of an escape is a show that you can, and probably will, half-watch while also doomscrolling on your phone?

We lose something when we become willing to settle. Reliability is a fine quality in a hybrid sedan. But in art, it has a cost. A show that can’t disappoint you can’t surprise you. A show that can’t enrage you can’t engage you.

The good news is, there is still TV willing to take chances, if you look for it. You may have loved or hated “The Curse,” but I would be surprised if anyone who watched an hour of it ended up indifferent to it. This month, HBO premiered “The Sympathizer,” Park Chan-wook’s frenetic adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s satire of the Vietnam War and its aftermath, a raucous, disorienting rush down the back alleys of memory.

With risk, of course, comes the possibility of disappointment — you might get another “The Idol.” I’m willing to accept the trade-off. The price of making TV that’s failure-proof, after all, is getting TV that can never really succeed. Come back, bad TV: All is forgiven.

James Poniewozik is the chief TV critic for The Times. He writes reviews and essays with an emphasis on television as it reflects a changing culture and politics. More about James Poniewozik

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