At the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27), being held until 18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, the buzzword is implementation.
By Jill De Villiers
November 11 is Day Six at COP 27 at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. In the many halls of the conference center, the air buzzes with earnest conversations and discussions. The buzzword is implementation. There is a palpable urgency about taking action.
Outside the sun is harsh but not too hot as people queue for refreshments, or impromptu chats with other delegates. The place is crowded. More than 30,000 people have descended on the Red Sea diving paradise. In the shuttle busses from the hotels, on the way to the conference venue, plans are made to stay on a day or two beyond the conference to see Sharm.
Today is Decarbonization Day, and governments representing over half of the global GDP have set out a 12-month action plan to make clean technologies cheaper and more accessible everywhere. This comprises a package of 25 new collaborative actions to be delivered by COP 28 to speed up decarbonization in power, road transport, steel, hydrogen and agriculture.
These sectors account for more than 50% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The actions are designed to reduce energy costs and enhance food security, with buildings and cement sectors to be added to the Breakthrough Agenda at COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates next year.
The Priority Actions include agreements to strengthen financial and technological assistance to developing countries and emerging markets to support their transitions. This is supported by financial measures such as the world’s first major dedicated industry transition program under the Climate Investment Funds.
Investment in agriculture research, development and demonstration will also be encouraged to address the challenges of food insecurity, climate change and environmental degradation.