COP27
What is COP27?
COP stands for Conference of the Parties. It is a UN climate summit that is held every year, for governments to agree steps to limit global temperature rises.
The 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP27, will be the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference.
Hosted by Egypt between 6 to 18 November 2022, the summit will be attended by nations across the world to discuss climate change and how countries plan to tackle it.
Heads of State, ministers and negotiators, along with climate activists, mayors, civil society representatives and CEOs will meet for the largest annual gathering on climate action.
Why is COP27 happening?
The world is warming because of fossil fuel emissions caused by humans.
Extreme weather events linked to climate change - including heatwaves, floods and forest fires - are intensifying. The past decade was the warmest on record, and governments agree urgent collective action is needed.
Why is COP27 so important?
Research shows that with our current emission trajectory, the global temperature will increase by 3-4°C in the next 80 years.
Global warming on this scale would cause irreversible global environmental damage, including floods and famine for billions of people annually.
COP27 will build on the outcomes of COP26 to deliver action on an array of issues critical to tackling the climate emergency - from urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, to delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries.
COP27 seeks renewed solidarity between countries, to deliver on the Paris Agreement, for people and the planet.
The Paris Agreement is an international agreement to tackle climate change, which was agreed by leaders back in 2015 when 195 countries attended COP21 in Paris.
The Paris agreement states that nations must:
- Reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gasses produced and increase renewable types of energy like wind, solar and wave power
- Keep global temperature increase "well below" 2C (3.6F) and to try to limit it to 1.5C
- Review progress made on the agreement every five years
- Provide financing to developing countries to mitigate climate change, strengthen resilience and enhance abilities to adapt to climate impacts.
What will be discussed at COP27?
COP27 will focus on three main areas:
- Reducing emissions
- Helping countries to prepare for and deal with climate change
- Securing technical support and funding for developing countries for the above
Some areas not fully resolved or covered at COP26 will be picked up:
- Loss and damage finance - money to help countries recover from the effects of climate change, rather than just prepare for it
- Establishment of a global carbon market - to price the effects of emissions into products and services globally
- Strengthen the commitments to reduce coal use.
There will also be themed days on issues including gender, agriculture and biodiversity.
How can I follow events at COP27?
Media interest will be heavy throughout the event’s two-week schedule and daily updates will follow in the press and from news broadcasters.
For more information about the COP27 conference visit: COP27: Delivering for people and the planet | United Nations
