SHARM EL SHEIKH, EGYPT - The biggest climate event of the year, Cop27, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, is now officially underway.
It has been a tumultuous 12 months since the last summit, Cop26, in Glasgow. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to global energy shortfalls, triggering cost of living crises in rich countries and leaving some poorer nations on the brink of famine.
There has also been a wave of disasters triggered by the climate crisis – from devastating flooding in Pakistan and western and central Africa, to wildfires and deadly heatwaves across Europe, and Hurricane Ian’s decimation of Florida. A deluge of new scientific reports warn that the world remains far off-track in preventing further dangerous temperature rise.
Cop27 needs to be a “down payment” for climate solutions, says UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, but can it live up to what’s needed? Read our full article for the five things to watch out for at the summit.
