Egypt's Cop27 summit President Sameh Shoukry has urged negotiators to hash out a comprehensive climate deal with “meaningful outcomes” by Friday as delegates remain largely at loggerheads about the path forward.
"Our common objective is to adopt consensus decisions and conclusions on Friday that will constitute comprehensive, ambitious and balanced outcomes of the Sharm El Sheikh conference," he told delegates.
"It is now up to us all here to rise to the occasion and respond to the demands and calls from our communities around the world. We will accept no less than meaningful outcomes at Cop27.
One week into this year's UN summit, frustrations are starting to flare as negotiators worry about resolving the myriad details in time for a deal.
Negotiators in Sharm El Sheikh will look to a bilateral meeting Monday in Bali between China's Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, along with the communique from a G20 meeting both will subsequently attend, for signals that could break the deadlock in Egypt.
"Confirming the 1.5C goal in Bali would make our lives easier," a senior negotiator at the climate talks said.
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UN puts out draft text on thorny issue of 'loss and damage'
The UN on Monday put out a draft text on resolving the thorny issue of "loss and damage" amid growing concern whether its climate conference in Egypt would live up to its billing as the "implementation summit".
Vague and including a range of options, the draft text sets out what this year's climate summit, Cop27, could agree upon the subject of "loss and damage" — a negotiation phrase that means rich industrialised countries should bankroll efforts by developing nations to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change.
At the heart of the issue is the fact that rich nations are responsible for the vast majority of greenhouse gas emissions while developing nations, whose responsibility for climate change is insignificant, are the hardest hit.
The draft text, which could still be changed, included a reference to the establishment of a UN-administered fund. Other options included a fit-for-purpose fund under the UN and the strengthening of existing entities and public finance, including grants.
Brazil and rainforest nations join forces to save world's jungles
The world's three largest rainforest nations Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia on Monday formally launched a partnership to co-operate on forest preservation.
Representatives of the three countries, which represent 52 per cent of the world's tropical rainforest, signed the joint statement at the talks in Indonesia ahead of the G20, or Group of 20 industrialised nations, which begins on Tuesday.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was elected as Brazil's president at the end of October and has vowed to protect the Amazon and reduce logging and deforestation to zero.
The G20 talks coincide with the second and final week of the Cop27 United Nations climate summit in Egypt, where Mr da Silva’s environmental adviser Izabella Teixeira said Brazil would seek to get the involvement of other countries in the Amazon basin, which spans nine nations.
"Forests matter, nature matters. And I do believe that without Amazon protection, we cannot have climate security," said Ms Teixeira, who was environment minister under Lula during his previous term as president that ended in 2010.
"I believe that Brazil should promote that other countries should come together."
UAE is committed partner for climate actions, says US Secretary of Agriculture
The UAE is a firm and committed partner for climate action and is in their very interest to steward climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation globally, US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said on Monday.
He said he is sure that the UAE would organise “an exceptional” Cop28 next year.
Mr Vilsack said that the UAE’s agricultural innovation – with the world’s largest vertical farm and the Food Tech Valley, the first of it’s kind agri-tech city – made it a leader in environmental solutions to food production.
“These innovations demonstrate leadership and commitment from the UAE and make it one of the most active countries in climate action,” he noted.
India lays out long term climate plans
India laid out on Monday the steps it will take to achieve net zero by 2070, releasing its Long-Term Low Emissions and Development Strategies (LT-LEDS).
Under the Paris Agreement, which holds the world to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial temperatures, all countries are required to submit reports showing how they'll get there.
So far, just 56 countries have submitted LT-LEDS to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including China, the United States, and Japan.
Climate talks deadlocked but hopes alive of breakthrough before Friday
"Our common objective is to adopt consensus decisions and conclusions on Friday that will constitute comprehensive, ambitious and balanced outcomes of the Sharm El Sheikh conference," he told delegates.
"It is now up to us all here to rise to the occasion and respond to the demands and calls from our communities around the world. We will accept no less than meaningful outcomes at Cop27.
"Time is not on our side and the world is watching. Let us come together and deliver now."
One week into this year's UN summit, frustrations are starting to flare as negotiators worry about resolving the myriad details in time for a deal.
At last year's UN climate summit in Glasgow, nearly 200 countries vowed to "keep alive" the Paris Agreement's aspirational goal of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
But, nearly 1.2 degrees of warming has already happened, triggering a cascade of increasingly severe climate disasters, such as the flooding that left a third of Pakistan under water this summer.
"Parties are basically staring each other down, thinking they have done their part and waiting for the other side to move," said the head of WWF France, Pierre Canet.
As ministers arrive to cut through political knots above the pay grade of front-line negotiators, focus will turn to a crucial "decisions" document that will reveal the consensus reached – or not.
"All the big political crunch issues are unresolved," said Alden Meyer, a senior analyst at climate think tank E3G.
Egypt’s Cop27 president and foreign minister Sameh Shoukry urged nations to make progress.
To accelerate decarbonisation, many developing nations – including small island states whose very existence is threatened by rising seas – favour a deepened commitment to the 1.5C target, with specific mention of the fossil fuels that drive emissions.
While the Paris accord demands a 43 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2030, a recent UN report estimated that the world is on target for a 10 per cent rise by that point.
Negotiators in Sharm El Sheikh will look to a bilateral meeting Monday in Bali between China's Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, along with the communique from a G20 meeting both will subsequently attend, for signals that could break the deadlock in Egypt.
"Confirming the 1.5C goal in Bali would make our lives easier," a senior negotiator at the climate talks said.
Egypt’s Cop27 President Sameh Shoukry told nations that “time is not on our side and the world is watching, let's deliver now” on deals to cut carbon emissions and agree new targets.
Cop27 kicks off for week two with Gender Day
Negotiators from nearly 200 countries pushed ahead during the rest day with fractious talks on climate finance.
The negotiators will be trying before government ministers arrive this week to make as much progress as possible towards a hoped-for deal out of the annual UN climate summit.
But reports indicate that frustrations are starting to emerge, specifically over the thorny issue of "loss and damage", or financial support for developing countries hit by climate-fueled disasters.
A G7 plan called Global Shield is expected to be announced on Monday at COP27 for funnelling emergency climate funding to developing countries.
As well, India is expected to announce on Monday its long-term strategy to slash emissions at home.
Sources say the South Asian giant will be arguing for a global "phase down" of all fossil fuels.
And, on Monday, eyes turned to Indonesia where China's President Xi Jinping is set to meet US President Joe Biden on climate issues ahead of the G20 meeting in Bali on Tuesday.
Experts said that whatever results from that meeting between the leaders of the world's two biggest polluting countries will have a big impact on the COP27 talks.
Other news out of G20 that Indonesia was teaming up with the Asian Development Bank and a private power firm to refinance and prematurely retire a coal-fired power plant was sure to buoy the mood in Egypt. The deal is part of a global effort to accelerate the mothballing of coal capacity in developing countries.
The Ukrainian environment minister was also due to arrive at the UN summit.
Last week, members of Ukraine's COP27 delegation said they hoped their presence drew attention to the climate and environmental consequences of Russia's February invasion of their country.
John Kerry notes some reluctance to mention 1.5ºC warming limit at Cop27
US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry said on Saturday that a few countries have surprisingly resisted mentioning the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels during the UN climate summit in Egypt.
Addressing a news conference, Mr Kerry also gave a general assessment of the two-week Cop27 summit at its halfway point. He said a lot of work had yet to be done but delegates “genuinely are making really good progress”.
He said the world has to meet the goal of keeping the temperature increase below 1.5ºC by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030. After that, he said, it could be impossible to hit that target, barring a major scientific breakthrough.
Gambian activist speaks up for African youth
The young man from Gambia took part in a protest on Saturday that highlighted the effect on climate change on Africa with droughts, floods and displacement causing chaos.
“We have seen so much drought and famine and so much of displacement because of climate change. Hence the banner,” he told The National, referring to the sign he was carrying.
“Wars are being caused because of the climate. People are being displaced. We are African youth and want to make sure Cop27 listens to Africa and justice is done,” said Mr Gibba, who is in his 20s.
Agriculture in the spotlight on Day 7 as attention turns to final declaration
Joe Biden: the very life of the planet is at stake at Cop27
Hamza Hendawi reports in Sharm El Sheikh:
US President Joe Biden delivered a robust address to the UN climate summit in Egypt on Friday, mixing dire warnings on the fate of the planet with pledges to lead and fund the fight against climate change.
Read full story here
Biden says every country needs to 'step up'
Before his arrival, Mr Biden’s administration sought to set the stage by unveiling a domestic plan to crack down on the US oil and gas industry’s emissions of methane, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases, in a move that defied months of lobbying by drillers.
"Against this backdrop, it's more urgent than ever that we double down on our climate commitments. Russia's war only enhances the urgency of the need to transition the world off its dependence on fossil fuels," he said.
Cop27: Biden calls for commitment to climate targets against backdrop of Ukraine war
US President Joe Biden told the Cop27 summit on Friday that the war in Ukraine made it more urgent than ever to double down on climate commitments, calling on every country to align with targets to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
"Russia's war only enhances the urgency of the need to transition the world off its dependence on fossil fuels," he said.
US President talks human rights in meeting with Egypt's El Sisi
Hamza Hendawi reports in Sharm El Sheikh:
US President Joe Biden on Friday discussed human rights in a sit-down meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El Sisi as they met on the sidelines of the Cop27 global climate forum in Sharm El Sheikh.
Mr El Sisi tackled the issue head on, addressing reporters in Arabic and saying that Egypt took a comprehensive approach.
“Allow me to say to you that we are taking a comprehensive approach [to human rights] and we pay attention to that subject and we try and develop ourselves,” he said.
Cop27 talks on climate compensation not yet ready to agree on new fund
UAE and US in $8bn drive to prepare agriculture for climate change
John Dennehy reports:
A joint UAE-US fund to help prepare the agricultural sector for climate change has been doubled to $8 billion.
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (Aim for Climate) has mobilised another $4bn since it launched last year to build more resilient agriculture and food systems, it was announced at Cop27 on Friday.
The funds will go towards projects that can mitigate climate change, prepare for its effects and help to lift people out of poverty.
Aim for Climate also seeks to support small-scale farmers, especially women, and communities in low- and middle-income countries most susceptible to the world's changing climate.
Read more about the project here
Data from space to help UN track methane emitters
Big emitters of the heat-trapping gas methane can expect a call from the UN starting next year, when the global body launches a new platform to combine existing systems for tracking the potent greenhouse gas from space.
The UN Environment Programme said on Friday that the new Methane Alert and Response System — Mars for short — is intended to help companies act on major emissions sources but also provide data in a transparent and independent way.
It draws on satellite measurements performed by Nasa and the European, German and Italian space agencies. Data from private satellite operators will also be incorporated in future.
“Each of these instruments give us a correct answer to a question that is slightly different, because each of them see different things,” said Manfredi Caltagirone, head of the International Methane Emissions Observatory at Unep.
“So the only way you can have a correct picture is to connect them all together.”
Read more about methane tracking from space here
Joe Biden arrives in Sharm El Sheikh for Cop27
Biden to draw attention to US cash contribution at Cop and beyond
Hamza Hendawi reports:
US President Joe Biden will join Cop27, the UN climate summit in Egypt, on Friday to start a week-long foreign tour that will take him to Cambodia and Indonesia.
While in Egypt’s Red Sea resort city of Sharm El Sheikh, Mr Biden — whose country historically is the world’s worst greenhouse gas emitter — is expected to highlight his administration’s pledge to spend $375 billion over a decade to fight climate change.
That commitment is likely to give Washington leverage over other industrialised nations to honour their pledges to reduce emissions and steer the world away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy sources.
While in Cambodia, Mr Biden will attend a meeting of South-East Asian leaders before he flies to Bali, Indonesia, where he will be at the Group of 20 summit meeting for leaders of the world’s largest economies.
Inside Ukraine's sombre Cop27 pavilion
John Dennehy reports:
There are two things weighing on Oleksii Riabchyn’s mind in Egypt: the first is climate change, and the second, the fact his wife and children are back in Ukraine in a bomb shelter.
Mr Riabchyn, 39, is representing Ukraine at Cop27, where the country has its first ever pavilion at a UN climate conference.
Painted a sombre grey to reflect the war back home, Ukraine wants it to be a statement of defiance and hope to show Russia’s invasion will not prevent Kyiv thinking of tomorrow.
“It is really hard to think about the climate when in Kyiv my wife and kids are without heating and electricity and taking refuge in a bomb shelter,” said Mr Riabchyn.
“But we understand that we are not only fighting for the future of Ukrainians but the future of the climate. And the future of Ukraine should also be green.”
Despite its austere appearance, Ukraine's pavilion has been popular among delegates, with a steady stream of visitors taking photos and watching videos that outline how the country has suffered since Russia invaded in February.
Read more on Ukraine's Cop27 pavilion here