Blog: COP27 – One step forward…

Early on Sunday morning Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian foreign minister and President of COP27, the United Nations Climate Conference, closed the proceedings with a tired last flourish of his gavel. Many of the delegates and observers had left, including myself, as it had been scheduled to finish on the Friday. Mr Shoukry could, at least, be satisfied that an agreement was finally reached. Throughout the second week the gap between the different parties was so great, that it seemed unlikely it could be closed. There were those seeking greater ambition in achieving the target temperature rise of only 1.5 degrees (a target which remained barely alive after COP26) and those who were willing to forget it. Those demanding a fund be set up to deal with loss and damage – compensation for the people of the Global South who have benefitted least from the burning of fossil fuels by the rich nations, and suffering most from the impacts of climate change – were opposed by the US and a few others. In the end, after 27 COPs, it was finally agreed to set up a Loss and Damage Fund. There is no money in the fund yet, and no agreement as to who should be paying into it (the US and EU want China included) nor who should receive the funds – all the developing countries, or just the most vulnerable. But it was a genuinely historic decision, that trade unions helped to campaign for, recognising that those who have caused the damage should compensate those who have suffered most. However, the Sh...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: Article News climate change green unison Source Type: news