COP27 ends in tears and frustration – Reactions from participants – “The world will not thank us”
By Camilla Hodgson
20 November 2022
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (Financial Times) – Choking back his emotions, Tuvalu finance minister Seve Paeniu held up a photo of five youth delegates from his country and expressed his “deep regret and disappointment” that COP27 had been a “missed opportunity”.
More than 80 countries had supported a proposal to phase down the use of fossil fuels at the UN climate summit in Egypt, he said.
Ultimately, the agreement by almost 200 nations reached after all-night discussions did not go further than the weakened Glasgow COP26 pledge to phase down polluting coal power and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.
Several of the frustrated and exhausted negotiators from western nations blamed the oil- and gas-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia, emboldened by the global energy crisis.
Many of the world’s biggest fossil fuel producers succeeded in staving off the demands for bolder action on climate change as the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh drew to a close on Sunday, in spite of a dramatic threat of an EU walkout the day before.
While the final agreement included a historic commitment for a new fund to help pay for climate-related damage suffered by especially vulnerable countries, a broad range of nations deplored the lack of progress during the two-week summit on how to cut greenhouse gas emissions faster.
“The world will not thank us when they hear only excuses tomorrow,” said the EU’s green chief Frans Timmermans. “This is the make or break decade but what we have in front of us is not enough of a step forward.”
Saudi Arabia had been “playing hardest” in its resistance to faster progress in cutting emissions, said one person involved in the eleventh hour discussions. China also held back progress but was less vocal than the Arab League countries in the negotiations, those familiar with the talks said.
Emotions were on display and resentments obvious during the last 24 hours of the summit.
Glasgow COP26 president Alok Sharma marched furiously away from a negotiating room late on Saturday evening, after a failed attempt by a wide coalition of countries including the UK to link global warming targets to the agreement for a loss and damage fund. […]
By Saturday morning, the EU threatened to walk away. The bloc cited fears about weakening plans to cut emissions fast enough to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement to keep global warming well below 2C from pre-industrial times, and ideally 1.5C. Temperatures have already risen at least 1.1C.
As the early hours of Sunday approached, the Arab group of nations and Russia resisted wording that emphasised the need for renewable power.
Saudi Arabia pushed for the UN agreement to allow for carbon capture and storage technology, which would limit emissions and enable continued oil and gas production.
Pushing in the other direction, a growing number of countries, including the US and Australia, said they would support a commitment to phase down all fossil fuels.
What emerged early on Sunday morning was an uneasy compromise, with no mention of phasing out fossil fuels. [more]
COP27 ends in tears and frustration: ‘The world will not thank us’
Group of members ‘deeply disappointed’ and call for ‘urgent escalation’
20 November 2022 (The Guardian) – It is 8am in Sharm El-sheikh and the closing plenary is still going, with final statements being made by parties and observers.
Some of the elation at COP27’s historic deal on loss and damage is giving way to the realisation the conference didn’t deliver on the fundamental challenge of agreeing more rapid cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.
Australian climate negotiator, Sally Box, has just made a statement on behalf of members of the Umbrella group – a negotiating bloc that includes Australia, Canada, Japan, Iceland, Israel, New Zealand, Norway, the UK, and the United States.
The loss and damage deal was historic, she said, but “We must go further in light of the stark findings of the latest science including by recognising that global emissions must peak by 2025 to keep 1.5C alive.”
In a speech to the plenary, she asked all countries to come up with an “urgent escalation of our efforts”: “Parties, we must turn resolve into action. We are deeply disappointed that some parties have sought to restrain the ambition of this work [climate mitigation] work program. We cannot decide to do less.”
Group of members ‘deeply disappointed’ and call for ‘urgent escalation’
‘We can do the impossible’: how key players reacted to end of COP27 climate summit
20 November 2022 (The Guardian) – World leaders, diplomats, activists and experts have been reacting to the end of the COP27 climate conference, which produced a groundbreaking agreement on climate finance for poorer countries but failed to make significant progress on many other matters. Here are some of the reactions from major players.
Laurence Tubiana, one of the architects of the landmark Paris agreement
“This COP caused deep frustrations, but it wasn’t for nothing. It achieved a significant breakthrough for the most vulnerable countries. The loss and damage fund, a dream at COP26 last year, is on track to start running in 2023. There is a lot of work still to be done on the detail, but the principle is in place and that is a significant mindset shift as we deal with a world in which climate impacts cause profound loss.
“The influence of the fossil fuel industry was found across the board. This COP has weakened requirements around countries making new and more ambitious commitments. The text makes no mention of phasing out fossil fuels and scant reference to science and the 1.5C target. The Egyptian presidency has produced a text that clearly protects oil and gas petrostates and the fossil fuel industries. This trend cannot continue in the United Arab Emirates next year.
“Elsewhere in Sharm el-Sheikh, it was a silent and fearful COP for many activists. The legacy of those fighting for civic space and human rights will endure.”
Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders group of statespeople
“In a year of multiple crises and climate shocks, the historic outcome on loss and damage at COP27 shows international cooperation is possible, even in these testing times. Equally, the renewed commitment on the 1.5C global warming limit was a source of relief.
“However, none of this changes the fact that the world remains on the brink of climate catastrophe. Progress made on mitigation since COP26 in Glasgow has been too slow. Climate action at COP27 shows we are on the cusp of a clean energy world, but only if G20 leaders live up to their responsibilities, keep their word and strengthen their will. The onus is on them. All climate commitments must be transformed into real-world action, including the rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, a much faster transition towards green energy, and tangible plans for delivering both adaptation and loss and damage finance.
“We avoided backsliding and made progress in Sharm el-Sheikh. Now leaders must stop sidestepping and fulfil their promises to safeguard a livable future.”
John Kerry, Joe Biden’s climate envoy
Kerry said the US was “pleased” to support the new fund, after the Americans gained assurances that there would be no legal liability for climate damages suffered by other countries.
“The fund, which will be one among many available avenues for voluntary funding, should be designed to be effective and to attract an expanded donor base,” he said in his closing statement, a nod to other countries the US expects to step up and perhaps a tacit acknowledgment that America has failed to meet previous promises to itself deliver climate finance.
Despite the lack of more ambitious language to cut emissions in the COP27 text, Kerry was upbeat, saying that “make no mistake: we have kept the hope of 1.5 alive”.
Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU executive
Von der Leyen described the COP27 deal as “a small step towards climate justice” but said much more was needed for the planet.
“We have treated some of the symptoms but not cured the patient from its fever,” she said in a statement. “I am pleased that COP27 has opened a new chapter on financing loss and damage and laid the foundations for a new method for solidarity between those in need and those in a position to help. We are rebuilding trust.
“COP27 has kept alive the goal of 1.5C. Unfortunately, however, it has not delivered on a commitment by the world’s major emitters to phase down fossil fuels, nor new commitments on climate mitigation.”
Vanessa Nakate, climate justice activist from Uganda
“COP27 was meant to be the ‘African COP’ but the needs of African people have been obstructed throughout. Loss and damage in vulnerable countries is now unignoreable, but some developed countries here in Egypt have decided to ignore our suffering. Young people were not able to have their voice heard at COP27 because of restrictions on protest, but our movement is growing and ordinary citizens in every country are starting to hold their governments accountable on the climate crisis at home.”
Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, climate envoy from the Marshall Islands
“I’m proud I got to be here to witness this happen and contribute in a small way. Worn out but so worth it to protect already disappearing islets, shorelines and culture. So many people all this week told us we wouldn’t get it. So glad they were wrong.
“I wish we got fossil fuel phase-out. The current text is not enough. But we’ve shown with the loss and damage fund that we can do the impossible. So we know we can come back next year and get rid of fossil fuels once and for all.”
Ani Dasgupta, president of the World Resources Institute
“In a historic breakthrough, wealthy nations have finally agreed to create a fund to aid vulnerable countries that are reeling from devastating climate damages. This loss and damage fund will be a lifeline for poor families whose houses are destroyed, farmers whose fields are ruined, and islanders forced from their ancestral homes. This positive outcome from COP27 is an important step toward rebuilding trust with vulnerable countries.”
Mohamed Adow, director of the Power Shift Africa thinktank
“To quote the Three Lions England football song, after 30 years of hurt, climate action is finally coming home on African soil here in Egypt.
“At the beginning of these talks, loss and damage was not even on the agenda, and now we are making history. It just shows that this UN process can achieve results, and that the world can recognise the plight of the vulnerable must not be treated as a political football. It’s worth noting that we have the fund but we need money to make it worthwhile. What we have is an empty bucket. Now we need to fill it so that support can flow to the most impacted people who are suffering right now at the hands of the climate crisis.
“However, on a global fossil fuel phase-down, it’s sad to see countries just copying and pasting the outcome from last year’s COP26 in Glasgow. The science is clear, the impacts are getting worse, and we know that renewables are the future. Polluting countries need to leave coal, oil, and gas in the ground if we’re going to keep global heating from running out of control.”
Meena Raman, director of Third World Network and adviser to developing countries at COP27
“Since the EU and Alok Sharma are disappointed that fossil fuel phase-out is not in the text, we would like them to take leadership and revise their NDCs [nationally determined contributions] and put into plans their fossil fuel phase-out urgently and stop expansion of fossil fuels including oil and gas. [It’s] not enough to play to the gallery but act if they really want to save the planet and not hide behind 2050 net zero targets, which will bust the remaining carbon budget for 1.5C. They have the historical responsibility to get to real zero and in fact negative emissions and not net zero by 2050.”
‘We can do the impossible’: how key players reacted to end of Cop27 climate summit
EU president says COP27 deal is ‘small step towards climate justice’ but warns much more to be done – as it happened
The youth delegate from Norway has some strong words:
“I am disappointed, sad and angry. Where is the urgency? Where is the crisis management?
“This is not about politics, this is about humanity. These times require us to put our values and morals in the driver’s seat. We need you to be brave, to do absolutely everything in your power. If you don’t act now, it might be too late for us to right your wrongs when we inherit your seats.
“The alternative to radically upscaling ambition now will create a world none of us want to live in. Now is the time to decide if you want to be tomorrow’s villains or heroes.”
Alok Sharma: Peaking of greenhouse gas emission in 2025 “not in this text”
The UK’s lead climate negotiator, the minister Alok Sharma, has just delivered a telling speech at COP27 revealing what some countries had tried to push through to an agreement.
Sharma was the president of the Glasgow COP in 2021, and he was clearly frustrated with the events of the last two weeks in Egypt.
He punctuated his speech with his hand thudding in to his speech notes.
“We joined with many parties to propose a number of measures that would have contributed to [raising ambition].
“Emissions peaking before 2025 as the science tells us is necessary. Not in this text.
“Clear follow through on the phase down of coal. Not in this text.
“Clear commitments to phase put all fossil fuels. Not in this text.
“And the energy text weakened in the final minutes.
“Friends, I said in Glasgow that the pulse of 1.5 degrees was weak. Unfortunately, it remains on life support.
“All of us need to look ourselves in the mirror and consider if we have fully risen to the challenge.”
Sharma said he would not be in the UK’s chair position at next year’s COP meeting, but added:
“I promise you if we do not step up soon and rise above the minute to midnight battles to hold the line we will all be found wanting.
“Each of us will have to explain that to our citizens to the world’s most vulnerable countries and communities and ultimately to the children and grandchildren to whom many of us now go home.”
EU climate policy chief: ‘We have all fallen short’
The European Union’s climate policy chief Frans Timmermans has just delivered an impassioned plea to the floor of the closing plenary at Cop27 in Egypt.
Timmermans said sacrifices had been made in order to get the agreement for loss and damage over the line, but he left the room in no doubt of his disappointment.
“Friends are not friends if they only tell you what you want to hear. Last night our talks have stalled. There were too many attempts to roll back even on what we agreed in Glasgow.”
Timmermans asked all countries to do more.
“The fight for ambition for a better future is not yet over. In fact, it’s only just begun. We know the cost of inaction is so much higher than the cost of action. We should have done much more. We have all fallen short in actions to avoid loss and damage. Our citizens expect us to lead. That means far more rapidly reduced emissions.”
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has released a full statement on the outcomes of COP27.
He’s already described the creation of a loss and damage fund for developing countries as an important step for climate justice.
He said financial institutions and multinational banks needed to “accept more risk and systematically leverage private finance for developing countries at reasonable costs.”
“But let’s be clear. Our planet is still in the emergency room. We need to drastically reduce emissions now – and this is an issue this COP did not address.
“A fund for loss and damage is essential – but it’s not an answer if the climate crisis washes a small island state off the map – or turns an entire African country to desert.
“The world still needs a giant leap on climate ambition. The red line we must not cross is the line that takes our planet over the 1.5-degree temperature limit.”
Espen Barth Eide, Norway’s environment minister, said
“We were suggesting we should have a phaseout of unabated fossil fuels, of course this is not in, I would prefer it to be in.
“It’s not as strong as we’d like it to be, but it doesn’t raise ambition further and that’s something we have to work on further at COP28.”
Even worse to some was the inclusion in the agreement text of “low-emission” as well as renewable energy, a wording that could be interpreted as an endorsement of gas, which is seen as a cleaner fossil fuel than coal and yet still comes with substantial planet-heating emissions.
Collin Rees, campaign manager at Oil Change International, said:
“COP27’s key steps toward a loss and damage fund are deeply marred by the lack of progress on fossil fuels.
“Despite unprecedented discussion of equitably phasing out oil, gas, and coal, the end result was yet another Cop without formal recognition that Big Oil is driving the climate crisis and harming communities.”
Climate scientists have warned that there currently is no credible path to staying below 1.5C given countries’ insufficient emissions reduction targets, with 2022 on track to set a new record for global greenhouse gas emissions.
Rachel Cleetus, policy director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the emissions trajectory is “dangerously off course” and the agreement does little to alter this.
“Though it makes some important advances, the final COP27 decision falls well short of what the science shows is needed.”
There is no valid reason to ever expect the necessary progress required to effectively limit C02 contributions to the atmosphere. I’ve pointed out for years that we blew right past the so-called 1.5C limit and nobody even noticed.
Only by fudging the numbers and changing the dates can they claim “we’ve still got a chance”. Clearly, we do not. Honesty does not prevail here, but deception does.
COP27 was yet another miserable failure (by design). I don’t embrace any connedspiracies but I do claim reality. These conferences and their so-called participants have no intention of dealing with reality. Advanced nations deliberately sabotage any efforts to change the status-quo. It is in their interest to do so – and that has never changed.
The entire process is rife with fraud and misrepresentation just like the IPCC Reports continue to be. I am absolutely not even the least bit surprised that once again, for the umpteenth 27th time, this is another failure.
“If you keep doing what you’ve always done, don’t expect different results”. Everyone pretends to pay attention to what they say – but what actually matters is what they do. And they are not doing anything of substance and never have. Therefore, they likely as not, never will.
It is the fault of political leaders throughout the world that refuse to address root causes, and the industries that control them through their pockets and the deceived public that does not hold them to account. This is allowed, even encoded into law. It’s insane behavior. We all actually know this, and we all actually understand how this is going to turn out, “more of the same, except worse”.
I don’t blog anymore, nobody reads and nobody cares, but I’m not silent, I have come to accept the reality of our collective failure. Humanity is addicted to a pollutive, destructive and suicidal civilization and we are not going to somehow save it through more words and meager promises or rockets to Mars or the Moon.
We’re constantly bombarded with endless distractions and deception, massive volumes of propaganda and deceit, so this is of no surprise either. Neuroscientist have perfected techniques to such a fine degree that billions are now easily manipulated through countless screens and controlled media of all types.
You cannot persuade a population that has lost the ability to think clearly, but you can perpetuate collective suicide and insane concepts that continue the path of self-destruction and enormous profiteering. Our failure is assured and built-in, root causes will never be actually addressed. COP is but part of this deception and always will be.