Washington, D.C. — After the close of the United Nations’ 27th Climate Change Conference (COP27), Frances Colón, senior director for International Climate Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
For the first time, COP27 leaders have acknowledged the urgent need to help developing countries on the front lines of the climate crisis by agreeing to establish a financial mechanism to address loss and damage. This was the defining issue of COP27. The final text also calls for multilateral banks to step up and mobilize climate finance at the scale required to reach the goals set forth by the Paris Agreement. These are critical steps in tackling the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the world’s most vulnerable communities.
Unfortunately, without immediate and significant emissions reductions, the world faces a near-term future where loss and damage will overwhelm our institutions and undermine our ability to adapt. The final text reflects the outsized and corrupting presence of fossil fuel and big agricultural lobbyists at COP27, compounded by a lack of ambition from key, high-emitting countries. The agreement makes only a passing reference to the 1.5-degree Celsius warming goal and does not include any new language on phasing down or phasing out all fossil fuels — the only way to reach emissions reduction goals and secure a livable future. World leaders also failed to reference the twin, interlocking crises of nature loss and climate change, and declined to link COP27 to next month’s U.N. biodiversity summit in Montreal.
Further progress on global climate action is only possible when all voices are represented in the discussion. There was a jarring lack of female negotiators at COP27 – making up a mere 34 percent of country negotiating teams. Women, young people, and Indigenous communities continue to lead the movement for greater climate ambition centered on justice. It is because of their continual advocacy that the loss and damage process made progress and they must have a greater seat at the table moving forward.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].