The Top 3 Talking Points So Far at COP27 in Egypt
The coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt is the most recent venue for the 27th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference, or more popularly COP27, held between the 6th and 18th of November 2022. The climate conference highlighted a few crucial talking points that could potentially shape the future of planetary warming in the 20th Century.
Additionally, the official website of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change published a complete preliminary draft cover text outlining the several commitments of participating countries.
Here are the following three key topics discussed during the climate deal.
1. Global Warming Threshold of 1.5°C Average
Several climate change scientists have persistently warned that our planet is going toward climate disaster. They have also stressed the importance of restricting global warming to 1.5°C beyond pre-industrial levels under the Paris Agreement.
2. The Wording on Fossil Fuel Use
During the COP26 last year in Glasgow, Scotland, there was a fierce debate on the wording of fossil fuels, particularly coal. India, with its heavy dependence on coal, intervened in the last few minutes of last year’s summit with its “phase down” phrasing; the interference eventually led to India’s unexpected call in the draft deal to have a “phasedown” that applies to all fossil fuels.
The phrasing on coal, however, did not make its way into the draft. Within the Mitigation section, the draft instead reiterates the call to hasten the phaseout of ineffective subsidies of fossil fuels as well as steady coal power.
3. Energy Security and Renewables
For the first time at COP27, renewable energy has made a cover headline in the decision text. Under the Energy section, the climate conference acknowledges that energy security becomes even more challenging as the worldwide energy crisis looms near. The draft emphasizes the need for an accelerated transition to renewables during these critical times.
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