SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT – World leaders gathered in Egypt today to kick-off the two week long United Nations COP27 Summit where they hope to answer questions about global warming and its’ impact upon the world’s population.
In years past, leaders at the COP meetings acknowledged that problems facing the world caused by industrialization, pollution, and environmental catastrophes. In last year’s meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, the BBC reported that conference delegates agreed to:
- “phase down” the use of coal
- stop deforestation
- cut methane emissions by 30% by the year 2030
- submit new climate action plans to the United Nations
There is tension between the Global North and the Global South. According to the delegates representing the Global South, the North continues to control the financial access to much needed capital that would allow the countries in the southern hemisphere to develop their infrastructures in order to survive during ever-worsening episodes of climate destruction.
The New York Times reported that Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados made connections between the control of financial capital available to vulnerable countries who lack the financial resources to “pivot away from fossil fuels.” She continued, “This world looks too much like it did when it was part of an imperialistic empire.”
There is some hope that the delegates will produce new plans to reach the previously set goals.
Despite the surprising withdrawal from the Paris Accord by the former president and climate-change denier, Donald Trump, the United States officially rejoined the Paris Accord in January of 2021.
Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to work with Congress to increase U.S. international finance to combat climate change to over $11 billion a year. The actions, according to the White House will strengthen the areas of global security, water, food, and health security.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg will not attend the COP27. France 24 reported that the 19 year-old would not attend COP27 because of Egypt’s oppressive policies on human rights and that the COPs, “are used mainly as an opportunity for leaders and people in power to get attention.”
Some content and information referenced by The UN, The BBC, The New York Times, France 24, and The White House.
