By Janet Ekstract
SHARM EL SHEIKH (GOLDENHORN AGENCY)- Egypt’s resort city Sharm El-sheikh is the site of COP27, where world leaders are meeting for the next two weeks in a climate summit pow-wow. The urgency of the global climate crisis is palpable and all too real as numerous climate disasters proved in 2022.
The summit will host climate advocates, activists, environmental experts, NGOs and a host of other organizations concerned with climate issues that have affected all populations regardless of economic status or location. Negotiators from close to 200 nations will be on hand to urge countries to keep their pledges to reduce global warming which has put the world on edge.
Reports from The World Meteorological Association and UN climate reports, indicate in 2021 that carbon and methane emissions hit an all time high. Also, reports show that climate goals set by a multitude of countries will be nearly impossible to achieve with scientists warning by the year 2100, the Earth’s temperature could reach as high as 2.9 Celsius vs the 1.5 Celsius scientists say is necessary to keep the world climate in check.
A major issue of great concern at the summit will be discussing the reduction of coal, which has soared ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, making it necessary to use as an energy source. Everyone can agree that fossil fuel emissions must be halved by 2030. A tall order, considering that plans countries submitted to meet that goal, are woefully lacking, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The 2022 COP27 will likely highlight a continuing thorny issue – that of ‘loss and damage’ – meaning that countries like the U.S., China and the EU should pay reparations to smaller and poorer nations for the climate damage they inflict, that causes repercussions for those nations. Former White House Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy told CNN that she predicts the issue of developed countries making reparations to less developed nations must be addressed since so far, no move has been made by countries like the U.S. to really address the issue.
