At the world climate conference in Egypt, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in grim words about the consequences of global warming. “We are on the road to climate hell with our foot on the gas,” Guterres said in a speech to dozens of leaders in Sharm al-Sheikh today.
“We are fighting the fight of our lives – and we are about to lose,” he warned, referring to the droughts, floods, storms and sea level rise caused by the climate crisis.
The goal agreed at the 2015 World Climate Conference in Paris of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial times is in grave danger. The Portuguese called for a “climate solidarity pact” that rich countries would now have to conclude with emerging and developing countries. The United States and China are particularly responsible for this. Literally, he said, “Humanity has a choice: work together or perish!”
“Eyes on Us”
Dozens of heads of state and government gathered at the world climate conference in Egypt to discuss next steps in the fight against the climate crisis. “There are great expectations of good results,” said the president of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. “Millions of people around the planet are watching us.” The consequences of climate-related weather events have never been as devastating as they are today.
“We have seen one catastrophe after another. As soon as we deal with one catastrophe, another comes along – wave after wave.” The land has turned into a “world of suffering,” Sisi said.
Gore: “We all have a credibility problem”
Former US Vice President Al Gore has warned countries around the world not to give up the fight against a climate catastrophe despite the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis. War should not be an excuse to stick to climate-damaging fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. Gore spoke of a “culture of death.” Efforts to reduce greenhouse gases are insufficient. “We have a credibility problem – all of us here.”
Van der Bellen, Gewessler and Brunner at the conference
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) and Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) participate on behalf of Austria. In view of the insufficient or poorly implemented results of previous climate summits, optimism “is not easy – but necessary,” Van der Bellen said today at the conference site. “Where else should these negotiations take place? The UN is the only global platform we have.”
US President Joe Biden plans to attend the UN conference on Friday. In addition, parallel rounds of conversations are planned, the so-called round tables, on topics such as water and food security or green hydrogen. A total of around 110 heads of state and government are expected.
Disturbing numbers and small successes
The first day of the UN climate conference in Sharm al-Sheikh (COP27) brought worrying numbers on global warming, but also small successes. Yesterday, the conference plenary agreed to negotiate financial aid for the poorest countries as a separate item for the first time. According to preliminary data from the World Climate Organization (WMO), the last eight years have been the warmest years ever worldwide.
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Activists complain of intensified repression
According to human rights activists, after calls for protests during the climate conference, the Egyptian police intensified the repression against alleged opponents of the government with police stops, cell phone searches, arbitrary arrests and interrogations by the military judiciary.
It is still not completely clear whether there will actually be protests in Egypt on Friday – demonstrations in the North African country are banned without prior approval from the authorities. Faced with the sharp rise in the cost of living and the great dissatisfaction of the population, the Cairo authorities are obviously nervous.