In recent months, this has been a hotly debated topic in the preparations for COP27, particularly in Africa, the continent that produces the least polluting gases but is one of the continents most affected by the problem.
Egypt, as host country, has repeatedly expressed its support for this position through President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and his Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
The list of speakers released by the UN this Monday includes the leaders of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, Iraq, Abdulatif M. Jamal Rashid, and Honduras, Xiomara Castro .
Also taking part will be the heads of state of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Rich countries agreed more than 10 years ago to transfer $100 billion a year, but that amount was never delivered, and much of the credit granted had been criticized the day before by the head of Egypt’s diplomacy, in his capacity as president of the Egyptian government conclave.
Another issue promising tensions among government negotiators is the creation of an agency to finance losses and damage to developing countries due to the Scourge.
Opening the meeting, Shoukry announced that there was consensus to discuss the issue, although he clarified that the debate on the issue would be collaborative and “imply do not imply any responsibility or compensation” until the final decision is made no later than 2024 .
This marks the start of official discussion of one of the items that caused the most friction at the previous summit in Glasgow last year, due to the refusal of the powers, particularly the United States, to contribute money to the project.
Despite the optimism, few here believe the negotiations will bear fruit, at least in the short term, as the global geopolitical, energy and economic crises have led to greater reluctance from global powers to contribute more money.
In a welcoming message to the more than 40,000 delegates posted on Facebook, President El Sisi called on the international community to take concrete action on climate change, which he saw as an existential problem for humanity.
This summit comes “at a very delicate moment when our world is facing existential threats and unprecedented challenges that are affecting the survival of our own planet and our viability,” he warned.
Similarly, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Simon Stiell and President of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Hoesung Lee spoke yesterday.
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