COP27 President Designate and Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry reiterated the need to further accelerate climate action on all fronts, namely in adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, and adopting more ambitious mitigation measures to keep the 1.5-degrees’ target within reach. The COP27 incoming Chairperson was addressing ministers from the G20 member nations at the G20 Environment and Climate Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
He acknowledged that the geopolitical realities in the world, and the ensuing energy crisis have opened the door for backtracking on climate commitments.
“It is concerning to see coal coming back as a source of energy in some parts of the world. It is equally concerning that climate finance commitments, especially the 100 billion dollars’ goal, are still lagging in implementation while the needs of developing countries continue to rise, most recently estimated by the UNFCCC’s Standing Committee on Finance to amount to 5 to 11 trillion US Dollars,” Shoukry said recognizing that G20 members can significantly contribute to the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions, recalling their direct contribution by the Group to the outcomes at Glasgow.
“Egypt believes that the role of the G20 is essential in this regard. As the biggest and the most politically and economically influential group of countries, G20 members should play a leading a role in ensuring that the challenges created by the current global situation do not serve as a pretext or justification for the continued delay in the fulfillment of climate pledges or backtracking on hard-earned gains in the global fight against climate change,” he added.
COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh will strive to continue leading the way through the different work streams under the UN Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement. It will aim to achieve additional breakthroughs, with science informing the international climate decision-making process, ensuring the multilateral climate negotiations are guided by rules, principles, ambition, and action.
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