Works are feverishly in motion in preparation to host the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2022 (COP 27) in Sharm El-Sheikh on November 6-18, 2022.
The event is an opportunity for developed countries to enact laws and commit finances towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At COP27, Egypt will turn these countries’ attention to urgent issues in the African continent, in particular, and in developing countries in general.
So what preparations are taken place ahead of the energy event?
Unofficial themes
Egypt has launched a number of unofficial themes agenda for the 10-day conference. The first is agriculture-related around nutrition, protection in coastal areas, disaster risk reduction, and solutions to food systems that are vulnerable to droughts and floods.
During Finance Day, green funding will look at innovative and blended financing, financial instruments, and policies to enhance access to finance.
Discussions will also be held around the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, oceans, endangered species, coral reefs, the sustainability of protected areas, and the impacts of plastic waste on ecosystems and aquatic species.
A day will be dedicated to looking for alternative ways to reduce greenhouse gases by showcasing technologies that encourage and facilitate the much-needed transformation towards a low-carbon economy.
Water Day will tackle water scarcity and drought, and improve early warning systems.
Peace Park
The organizer allocated a zone in Peace Park in Sharm El-Sheikh for civil society and the private sector, youth, women, and activists to showcase their success stories regarding climate change.
Side events will be held at the Green Zone with the participation of ministers, CEOs, and high-level personalities from banks and private sector companies.
Also, an integrated management of the waste system (collection, separation, and recycling) is being established.
A higher coordination committee, chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, was formed to host the upcoming COP27 climate conference and includes Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry who is also COP 27 President-designate, Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, and representatives from IT, Electricity and Renewable Energy, and Health and Population, among other ministries.
What’s at stake?
Experts at the African Risk Capacity Group, a specialized agency tasked to assist governments in tackling climate change risk, urged world leaders and negotiators to deliver the $100 billion in aid that richer nations promised, in order to help poorer countries deal with the climate issue.
Dr. Mohieldin, the UN’s High-Level Champion for Egypt on climate change, sent a warning that the continent’s fragile financial situation will worsen because of natural disasters resulting from climate effects.
According to Dr. Kariuki, vice president for power, energy, and climate at the African Development Bank, by 2030, the effects of climate change might cost the African economies $50 billion, or 7% of their GDP (GDP).
Agriculture will be the sector suffering the most from this and with severe impact expected on food security, putting over 200 million people at risk of hunger.
Dr. Kariuki urged increased investment in Africa, especially in the 22 economies on the continent that are most vulnerable, calling for $128 billion by 2030 as the minimum necessary to deal with food security.
