Postcards from COP 27

Below excerpt from an email by Glen Klatovsky CEO of Climate Action Network Australia at COP27

Carbon Trading

The influence of the fossil fuel industry is already clear. In discussions about the future of carbon trading (under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, by a technical committee largely out of sight of the NGO sector), we saw a recommendation adopted by the Supervisory Body that would promote geoengineering of the oceans and other fossil industry – promoted technofixes, undermining the integrity of the Paris Agreement as well as its commitment to human rights including the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

CAN has joined more than 450 global groups in calling to kick Big Polluters out for starters. That means an end to Big Polluters’ sponsorship of the climate talks and passing conflict-of-interest policies that protect climate action from polluters’ stranglehold. We continue to reject false solutions, like CCUS & fossil hydrogen, as these are a dangerous distraction and only serve to prolong dependence on fossil fuels.

CAN has joined more than 450 global groups in calling to kick Big Polluters out for starters. That means an end to Big Polluters’ sponsorship of the climate talks and passing conflict-of-interest policies that protect climate action from polluters’ stranglehold.

Loss & Damage

Loss & Damage has dominated the first stages of the COP. As background, here is some of the western media on this – Bloomberg, Guardian and Reuters. ABC has covered the Australian government context, in particular with the bid to host COP31 in 2026 with Pacific partners. The CANA team hopes to meet with Minister Conroy to discuss Loss & Damage in the next day or two.

Here is the perspective of CAN, representing much of civil society: “So yes, funding arrangements for Loss and Damage are now on the agenda, but the risk is real that we end up with an empty shell once again. The parameters adopted yesterday do not meet the demands of developing countries or the needs of the most vulnerable.”

Adaptation

Adaptation is one of the priority issues for this COP, being an African event. Adaptation is seen as the key to survive and thrive. The adaptation gap report’s title says it all – too little, too slow.  We must align our adaptation actions with science now. At COP27, we want Parties to:

• Commit to ensure at least 50% share of pre-2025 finance for adaptation and agree on a roadmap for at least doubling adaptation finance. This must be majority grants with the remainder highly concessional.
• Define key elements and framework for the Global Goal on Adaptation, including a political announcement on the means of implementation for adaptation.
• Ensure that the Glasgow-Sharm el-Sheikh (GlaSS) work programme is closely linked to other crucial policy processes, such as the Global Stocktake and the New Collective Quantified Goal.
• Recognise, adopt and promote the Principles for Locally-Led Adaptation which can realize the enormous potential and creativity of communities for transformation change.

CAN Perspective on first day

At the opening plenary of COP27, Tasneem Essop, Executive Director of Climate Action Network International, delivered a powerful intervention focusing on climate justice and human rights.

Please do share the tweet below:
https://twitter.com/CANIntl/status/1589335293190021120

The full intervention can be viewed here:
https://twitter.com/CANIntl/status/1589362549841330176