UN releases first draft of COP27 final text; document leaves something to be desired

O document (🇬🇧) of 20 pages repeats the goal of the 2021 Glasgow climate pact to “accelerate measures to reduce coal power, phase out and rationalize fossil fuel subsidies”. It is worth mentioning that last year's agreement was the first in the history of a COP to mention fossil fuels and coal as part of the climate crisis.

This year, progress in this area was expected, with a text indicating the need for a gradual reduction in all fossil fuels, and not just coal – as suggested by India, the European Union and the United States. However, at least in the preliminary text, this did not happen.

The document also left out details of the launch of a fund for losses and damages, an important demand from the most climate-vulnerable countries, such as island nations. Instead, it “welcomes” the fact that the parties have agreed for the first time to include “matters related to financing arrangements in response to loss and damage” on the Summit agenda.

Likewise, it does not cite a timeline for deciding whether it is best to create a separate fund or what it should look like.

As for the goal of a global warming of up to 1,5°C, the draft “emphasizes the importance of exerting all efforts at all levels to achieve the Paris Agreement temperature target of keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre- industries and pursue efforts to limit temperature rise to 1,5°C above pre-industrial levels.”

Ao british newspaper The Guardian (*), Yeb Saño of Greenpeace International reflected the general frustration, saying: “The Cop27 presidency hits the road to climate hell.

“After initially failing to mention fossil fuels, the draft text is an abdication of responsibility to capture the urgency expressed by many countries to see all oil and gas added to coal for at least one phase-down. It’s time to end the denial, the fossil fuel era must come to a quick end.”

The United Nations (UN) International Conference on Climate Change – COP27 – began last Sunday (6), in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. COP is the UN's major annual event whose objective is to discuss actions aimed at combating climate change. 

Read also

COP27: what you need to know about the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference

In 2022, the UN Climate Conference (COP27) takes place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, against a backdrop of extreme weather events around the world: a war-driven energy crisis in Ukraine and data showing that the world cannot is doing enough to combat carbon emissions and protect the future of the planet. But do you know what a COP is? What is discussed there and why is it so important? O Curto News explains it to you.

(🚥): may require registration and/or signature 

(🇬🇧): content in English

(*): content in other languages ​​is translated by Google Tradutor