COP27: How National Leaders are Addressing the Climate Crisis

“We are in the fight of our lives, and we are losing.” António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations began COP27 with daunting words. The current climate change crisis is a controversial yet highly important topic. There are the climate change non-believers, the climate change activists, those who don't believe there is anything they can do, and those who believe that those who can do something simply won't. As the 27th annual climate change conference continues, it is interesting to understand what exactly makes these meetings “important”. Members invited to the climate change conference include heads of state, ministers, negotiators, climate activists, mayors, civil society representatives, and CEOs. To further express how passionate some public figures are, on 10 November, iconic actor Rainn Wilson of The Office U.S. legally changed his name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson to raise awareness for climate change. 

COP 27 has been taking place since 6 November in Egypt and will come to a close on the 18th, following COP 26 which took place in Glasgow Scotland. As COP27 is the continuation of COP 26 as well as the preparation for COP 28, knowledge of what occurred the previous year is beneficial. The 26th annual climate change conference established the goal to turn the 2020’s into a decade of climate action and support; however, many participants felt the event was a failure which could be because this is a long-haul mission. The greatest takeaway of COP 26 was the Glasgow Climate Pact, nations were called to phase down coal, deliver financial help to developing countries, and increase ambitions to cut greenhouse gas emissions. While at COP 26 193 countries agreed to make stronger commitments to reducing emissions, only 23 submitted plans to the U.N., and even with these attempts, the U.N. reported that global and national climate commitments were falling short. COP 27 will pay a considerable amount of attention to China, as it is the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world. 

One of COP 27’s many goals is a focus on allocating funding for developing countries to protect themselves by moving vulnerable populations and paying for climate-related damage. Unfortunately, there are barriers to this year's climate conference's success. Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has slowed progress for climate activism, as many countries that promised climate action have been unable to take steps. The current energy crisis faced in many countries is also preventing their ability to contribute; while U.K. people put a lot of carbon in the atmosphere per capita, the funding for reparations is simply not in budget.

In terms of addressing highlights thus far, there are quite a few speakers with controversial and daunting opinions on the climate crisis. Nineteen year old climate activist, Greta Thunberg, refused to attend COP27, stating “The COPs are mainly used as an opportunity for leaders and people in power to get attention, using many different kinds of greenwashing.” Greenwashing, which Egypt has been accused of subscribing to, is the act of putting on a facade of deep concern for the environment while not acknowledging your own impact. Fossil fuel company executive, Vicki Hollub, spoke at a CEO armchair event on corporate leadership, and pushed the idea that individuals do not take enough blame for climate disasters such as flooding in Pakistan and the drought in the horn of Africa. Hollub stated “Don’t ask me about oil and gas without taking some responsibility yourself” continuing with the statement that people with phones, who fly airplanes, and who wear clothes are just as much to blame for climate issues as the oil and gas industry. This is an inherently problematic take on climate change as a person only emits roughly 2 tons of carbon dioxide per year. Interestingly, after receiving severe backlash for choosing not to attend COP27, Rishi Sunak found his way to the summit. Sunak took the climate crisis as an opportunity for a “global mission for new jobs and clean growth.” Possibly one of the most neutral statements Sunak could have made, he received criticisms for seeming as though he did not want to be there, and does not have any real care for or intentions to tackle the climate and energy crisis. Lastly, Democrats doing well in the U.S. midterms proved increasingly important. The United States is the second largest polluter of greenhouse gasses; however, Democrats have a higher proclivity towards helping with climate change.

A main goal of the climate change conference is to prevent temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees celsius. While we are currently at 1.3 degrees, which has had its own effects on the climate, 1.5 degrees is where the damages become irreversible. In order to save the planet, we must halve emissions by 2030 and reach a net zero before 2050 which is a harrowing reality. Scientists have listed that as a product of rising seas, drought, searing temperatures, and other climate devastations caused by the climate crisis, over the next 30 years nearly 150 million people around the world will need to migrate to new areas. Furthermore, while the Global North, the most affluent countries of the world, are responsible for approximately half of all emissions since industrialization, those in the Global South receive the brunt of the impacts. The way in which extreme weather changes, food scarcity, and health impacts of climate change are portrayed is sorely underreported due to a lack of representation of the experiences of those in the Global South. Not only is publication as someone from the most heavily affected parts of the world incredibly difficult, but finding funding to help themselves has proven nearly impossible as those who create the largest impact on the climate are reluctant to aid those who they are impacting. 

Ultimately, COP27 has not proven to be incredibly successful or promising for change, as its performative nature casts a grave shadow over any attempts that are being made. Given that the goals of previous years are not being met, and there seems to be a very repetitive nature of the entire event, there is certainly much to be critical of.