Discussions at COP27 begin near the end of a year that has seen devastating floods and unprecedented heat waves, severe droughts and formidable storms, all unequivocal signs of the unfolding climate emergency. At the same time, millions of people throughout the world are confronting the impacts of simultaneous crises in energy, food, water and cost of living, aggravated by severe geopolitical conflicts and tensions. In this adverse context, some countries have begun to stall or reverse climate policies and doubled down on fossil fuel use.
 

COP27 creates a unique opportunity in 2022 for the world to unite, to make multilateralism work by restoring trust and coming together at the highest levels to increase our ambition and action in fighting climate change.
This conference must be remembered as the ‘Implementation COP’ – the one where we restore the grand bargain that is at the centre of the Paris Agreement. The conference is really beginning today with a World Leaders' Summit, when heads of state and government leaders deliver five-minute addresses outlining what they want from the meeting.
After the departure of world leaders on Tuesday, conference delegates get down to the business of negotiation.

During last year's summit in Glasgow a number of pledges were agreed:

•     To "phase down" the use of coal - one of the most polluting fossil fuels
•     To stop deforestation by 2030
•     To cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030
•     To submit new climate action plans to the UN Developing nations - which are at the forefront of climate change - are demanding that previous commitments to finance are upheld.

But they also want there to be discussion on "loss and damage" finance - money to help them cope with the losses they are already facing from climate change rather than just to prepare for future impacts. Following intense negotiations, the issue is on the official agenda of COP27.