About COP27

The Convention has near universal membership (197 Parties) and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Agreement. The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep the global average temperature rise this century as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The UNFCCC is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.  The ultimate objective of all three agreements under the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development. 

The United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. All States that are Parties to the Convention are represented at the COP, at which they review the implementation of the Convention and any other legal instruments that the COP adopts and take decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention, including institutional and administrative arrangements. A key task for the COP is to review the national communications and emission inventories submitted by Parties. Based on this information, the COP assesses the effects of the measures taken by Parties and the progress made in achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention. 

Side Event: Adaptation priorities for the Indo-Pacific and Africa

The session highlighted local efforts in the Arab Region and Africa to adapt to climate change, while also focusing on the role of international and regional actors in determining financial mechanisms and strengthening local resilience Speakers included Dr. Emad Adly (RAED), Nina Birkeland (NRC), Perrine Piton (BRCiS, NRC Somalia), UNDRR ROAS, Yoko Watanabe (GEF), Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism, Dr. Tarek Baniyasseen (Jordan Society of Friends of Heritage), Eng. Abderrazak Messaad (Association for Environment Natural and Urban Protection, Algeria. Video Recording 

Thought about COP27 this year

Alix Dietzel’s recollections of COP27  “At COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, inclusion of the 1.5°C goal in the final text came down to the wire. But amidst the backdrop of global crises, subtle progress was made in some areas of climate finance and nature-based solutions.”

ClimateWorks, Monash University – “The main outcomes of COP27 are a good illustration of the power dynamics at play. There is some good news on loss and damage, which was added to the agenda at the last moment. Nearly 200 countries agreed that a fund for loss and damage, which would pay out to rescue and rebuild the physical and social infrastructure of countries ravaged by extreme weather events, should be set up within the next year. However, there is no agreement yet on how much money should be paid in, by whom, and on what basis.” Read the full article

Dr. R. Mutua Bessy Eva Kathambi, University of Nairobi – “It is becoming more imperative that we move from talking about climate change to real action. The COP 27 dubbed ‘brave action’, it is my hope that it will be brave actions that have specific targets and measurable action. It is my hope that we can have greater resolve than the one evidenced on Covid 19, in dealing firmly the issues of climate change. Humanity is threatened and it is time for action and less talk. We need less talk and real action!”

Isabelle Zhu-Maguire, Monash University – “I have faith that many young people won’t stop fighting for climate action, but I have a fear that many others are beginning to feel demoralised, and may eventually feel like there’s no point fighting against climate change.” COP27: Reigniting youth passion for greater climate change action