Arrival earlier than expected. Emmanuel Macron will be at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt on Sunday, following the cancellation of the start of the La Route du Rhum transatlantic race, postponed due to too strong winds.
In an attempt to stage his commitment to energy issues on the eve of this great event that brings together 120 leaders from around the world in a context of accelerated global warming, the Head of State sent a message on his Twitter account.
Very hesitant developed countries
“Do you have any doubts about the actions we are taking for ecology? Ask me. I will take the time to answer you”, launched the president on the social network, referring to food, housing, transportation, energy.
At the summit on Sunday and Monday, the tenant of the Elysee should put on the table, in particular, the question of financial compensation for the “losses and damages” already suffered by the poorest countries due to climate change.
But the developed countries are very reluctant, and last year they only accepted the creation of a “dialogue” on the issue, scheduled until 2024. The rich countries, however, had promised in 2009 during COP 15 to increase to 100 thousand million dollars per year in 2020 its financial aid to help the poorest reduce emissions and adapt to the effects of global warming.
The climate crisis, largely forgotten
The context of global crisis should not help, between the war in Ukraine, inflationary tensions, the specter of global recession and severe energy tensions.
That of relegating to the background a climate crisis that is still “existential, primordial and omnipresent”, in the words of the Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Choukri, who will chair the debates.
Alarming reports have multiplied since COP26 in Glasgow in 2021, when nearly 200 countries solemnly pledged to “keep alive” the most ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement, a fundamental treaty concluded in 2015.
Likely rise of 2.8 degrees
At the time, world leaders committed to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial era, when humans began large-scale burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, or gas) that emit greenhouse gases. responsible for global warming.
Even if all countries kept their promises, which has never happened before, the world would be on a 2.4 degree rise trajectory by the end of the century. The latest IPCC report now expects a temperature rise of 2.8 degrees, a figure considered “catastrophic” by many scientists.
Crucial relations between China and the US
However, it is not certain that COP27 will lead to real progress in this area, even if the Egyptian presidency boasts of an “implementation conference”.
However, renewed tension between the world’s top two polluters, the United States and China, weighs on the conference. Chinese President Xi Jinping will not come and American Joe Biden is expected to pass shortly after the November 8 midterm elections.
However, the two could meet on the sidelines of the G20 in Bali, during the second week of the COP. “If the two largest emitters do not talk to each other, we will not be able to withstand 1.5 degrees,” Greenpeace China has already warned.
Source: BFM TV
