There will be no room in COP27 for more pledges and promises without a timetable of efforts by governments, international organisations, the private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), businesses, universities and research centres.
This statement by the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, Dr Mahmoud Mohieldin came during his lecture to the Green Economy Forum, part of the ‘Green Economy Ambassadors’ initiative launched by Sadat University.
COP27 will focus on finding real solutions for negative impacts of climate change, Mohieldin said, adding that the conference aims to implement climate action without ignoring the current crises in the world such as the rise of fuel and food prices, and the increase of poverty, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic and in view of the war in Ukraine.
“Climate action will be useless if it leads to more poverty and higher unemployment,” Mohieldin said, stressing the need for a holistic approach that links climate targets and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate action should not be limited to reducing emissions, but it should also include adapting to climate change, dealing with losses and mobilising sufficient finance for all climate action projects, he said.
COP27 will enhance the regional and local dimensions of climate action through two initiatives.
The first is the Five Regional Roundtables initiative, co-ordinated with the UN, resulting in 400 regional projects worldwide of which 50 will be showcased at Sharm El-Sheikh to start the actual implementation.
The second initiative is the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects launched by the Egyptian government.
This initiative will be presented in COP27 as a model for localising development and climate action, Mohieldin said.
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