Cop27 news – live: Pakistan PM says time for rich nations to help is ‘now or never’

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif made an emotional plea in a speech at the COP27 summit this afternoon in Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt, calling on richer nations to help countries that are reeling from the effects of the climate crisis.

During his speech, he said it was “now or never” to take action and that “for us, there is no ‘planet B’”.He said: “This COP rings an alarm bell for humanity, it is the only platform where the survival of the human race as a goal still holds promise.

“It is also the forum where we as vulnerable countries take our case to the rich and the resourced to build a road map to crucial policy resets needed in a world that is burning up faster than our capacity for recovery.”

Mr Sharif's comments come in the wake of devastating floods across parts of Pakistan, which affected 33 million people and caused an estimated $40bn (£35bn ) in damages.

He added that the nation is being forced to spend billions of rupees from its own “meagre resources” and will enter a “debt trap” if it continues to pay for the damages.

Key Points

• Small island nations want Big Oil to pay up for climate damage

• World faces a billion climate refugees if government fails crisis talks, Barbados PM warns

• Tuvalu joins Vanuatu to call for treaty to phase out fossil fuels

• Israel and Jordan move forward with water-for-energy deal

• Tuesday: What will happen today at Cop27?

UK pledges support to ramp up offshore wind energy at Cop27

15:22 , Aisha Rimi

Nine countries including the UK have joined an organisation pledging to ramp up offshore wind production to tackle the energy and climate crisis.

Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and the US have joined the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) at Cop27, to work together to remove barriers to the development of offshore wind.

The alliance has been initiated by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Denmark, and the Global Wind Energy Council and will bring together governments, the private sector, and international organisations to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind power, GOWA claims.

Samuel Webb has more:

Wind power: UK pledges support to ramp up offshore wind energy at Cop27

Israeli and Lebanese leaders pledge to work together at climate summit

15:05 , Aisha Rimi

Israel’s environmental protection minister attended a regional meeting on Tuesday alongside Iraqi and Lebanese leaders at Cop27, the minister’s office said, where the group pledged to work together to tackle climate change.Israel is still officially at war with Lebanon, fighting a war against the militant Shiite Hezbollah in 2006, and Israel and Iraq have no diplomatic relations and a history of hostilities.While Lebanon and Israel recently signed a landmark, US-brokered maritime agreement, any hint that the two states are open to cooperating even as part of a regional setting would be meaningful. Lebanon bans its citizens from having any contact with Israelis and the sea deal was negotiated through American shuttle diplomacy, with no Israeli or Lebanese officials ever publicly meeting.According to a statement from Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg, the meeting took place as part of a regional forum of eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.The agreement by the member countries said the parties would work to “strengthen regional cooperation” and “act in a coordinated way” on climate change.“The countries of the region share the warming and drying climate and just as they share the problems they can and must share the solutions. No country can stand alone in the face of the climate crisis,” Zandberg said in the statement.

Mikati’s office played down the incident, saying it was being overblown in Israeli media.It said the meeting was called for by the presidents of Egypt and Cyprus and was attended by a large number of Arab and international officials like other meetings at the climate change conference. “There was no contact whatsoever with any Israeli official,” it said.

Associated Press

‘Let us not take the highway to hell’, says EU chief

14:52 , Aisha Rimi

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged countries to hasten action on climate change at the climate summit on Tuesday.

“The global fossil fuel crisis must be a game changer. So let us not take the ‘highway to hell’ but let’s earn the clean ticket to heaven,” she said, echoing remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday.

In a separate statement, European Council President Charles Michel said that Russia had chosen to make energy “a weapon of mass destabilisation.”

WTO chief seeks to revive green trade talks

14:17 , Aisha Rimi

The head of the World Trade Organisation aims to revive negotiations on a global environmental trade deal as part of efforts to give the trade watchdog a bigger role in tackling the climate crisis.

Talks on scrapping tariffs and other trade barriers on goods such as solar panels or smart-heating controls that can address climate change are seen as an important step towards cutting the cost of environmental protection.

But WTO discussions collapsed in 2016 after disagreements between China and Western countries about which products should be on the environmental list.

“We would like to see the revival of an environmental goods and services agreement,” Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters on the sidelines of the climate summit late on Monday.

She said the talks should also be expanded to include services. These could include air pollution mitigation or wastewater treatment.

“You need to have a friendly trade regime for renewables and other environmentally-friendly products,” she said, noting tariffs for fossil fuel products are lower than for renewables in many countries.

Germany can’t ask global south not to want more affluence, says Chancellor

14:02 , Aisha Rimi

Germany can’t ask countries in the global south not to want the same level of affluence as developed countries, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz, but it can work on technologies that will help these countries grow their economies in a climate-friendly way.

That will only succeed through technology developed by Germany that makes it possible for a country to become a successful, industrialised country without harming the climate, saidMr Scholz on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit.

‘Rank deception’ UN chief slams corporate greenwashing at Cop27

13:47 , Aisha Rimi

The UN Secretary-General has urged zero tolerance for net-zero ‘greenwashing’ – where corporations celebrate their ethical and environmental initiatives to divert attention from more dubious activities.

António Guterres praised the growing number of governments and organisations pledging to be carbon-free but says bogus ‘net-zero’ pledges to cover up fossil fuel expansion are “reprehensible”.

Samuel Webb has more:

‘Rank deception’ UN chief slams corporate greenwashing at Cop27

Pakistan flood survivors urge more climate compensation

13:32 , Aisha Rimi

“What goes on in Pakistan won’t stay in Pakistan”’ – that’s the bleak message Islamabad is displaying on its pavilion set up at the red sea town of Sharm el-Sheikh where leaders from around the world have gathered for the United Nations climate summit.

It’s a reminder that climate disasters, and their impact, aren’t limited to poor countries and now is the time to act. This year’s UN summit, called the 27th Conference of Parties or Cop27, is being held as the world faces a number of interconnected crises: the warming climate, food shortages, sky-high energy prices, and the Russian war on Ukraine.

But as the leaders from over a hundred countries gathered at the resort town on Monday, all eyes were on Shahbaz Sharif, prime minister of Pakistan, as he described the summer floods that caused at least $40 billion in damage and displaced millions of people, driving the renewed focus on climate compensation at this year’s conference.

Stuti Mishra has more:

‘Paying the price for inaction’: Pakistan flood survivors urge climate compensation

What are world leaders saying at Cop27?

13:16 , Aisha Rimi

Here are some of the latest comments from world leaders attending the UN climate summit:

Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda

“The oil and gas industry continues to earn almost 3 billion USD daily in profits. It is about time that these companies are made to pay a global carbon tax on their profits as a source of funding for loss and damage.

“Profligate producers of fossil fuels have benefited from extortionate profits at the expense of human civilization. While they are profiting, the planet is burning.”

Macky Sall, President of Senegal

“Let’s be clear, we are in favour of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. But we Africans cannot accept that our vital interests be ignored.”

Andrzej Duda, President of Poland

“The consequence of Russia’s aggression are crisis and huge costs which put at risk timely implementation of the climate transition, as well as the timely attainment of the intended goals.

“We must strive to ensure that the Russian aggression is promptly and permanently repealed by increasing support for Ukraine, enhancing pressure on Russia, and stepping up our efforts to become independent of Russian fossil fuels.”

Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka

“Double standards are unacceptable. Developed nations should be giving leadership to work on climate challenges rather than abdicating their responsibilities.”

“As many developed nations deem it fit to wait on their climate financing contributions, these countries were also on both sides of the Ukraine war and seemed to have no qualms spending for a war.”

World Bank will host facility for climate disaster risk , says president

13:02 , Aisha Rimi

The World Bank will host a new facility that will help countries that suffer heavy economic loss due to climate change-driven disasters, its president David Malpass said.

Mr Malpass announced the new instrument, called the Global Shield Financing Facility, at a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has spearheaded the effort among G7 members to create a programme to give vulnerable countries access to disaster risk finance and insurance.

Mr Scholz announced at the UN Climate Change Conference in Egypt on Monday that it will offer €170m for the Global Shield programme.

‘We’ve only got one shot’: John Kerry and Michael Bloomberg join forces to help cities slash emissions

12:49 , Aisha Rimi

Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg and the US state department have joined forces to help cities around the world reach net zero and become more resilient to climate change.

Climate envoy John Kerry and Mr Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor, launched a major plan for climate action at Cop27 as midterm election day dawns in the US.

The first-of-its-kind initiative, dubbed Subnational Climate Action Leaders’ Exchange (SCALE), will see $1.5million investment from the US state department and Bloomberg to support cities worldwide to cut their emissions.

Louise Boyle has more:

‘We’ve got one shot’: US Cop27 plan to help cities slash emissions

Austria commits $50m for climate ‘loss and damage’

12:34 , Aisha Rimi

Austria has pledged $50m over the next four years to developing countries facing unavoidable damage and losses caused by climate change, the climate ministry said.

A small group of European nations has agreed to hold their first formal talks on loss and damage –shorthand for cash-rich polluters would pay to poorer countries facing unavoidable damage from worsening floods, drought, and sea level rise.

Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and Scotland have also committed small amounts of loss and damage funding, breaking ranks with other rich nations that have resisted such payments for fear of spiralling liabilities for their outsized contribution to causing climate change.

The funds could support the “Santiago Network”, a UN scheme providing technical support to countries faced with damages from climate-fueled natural disasters, and a programme providing early warning systems to countries prone to extreme weather.

“The most vulnerable countries in the Global South are suffering particularly badly from the consequences of the climate crisis and are rightly demanding more support from industrialised countries,” climate minister Leonore Gewessler said.

She said Austria would also add another 10 million euros to this year’s budget for climate finance.

“Austria is taking responsibility,” Ms Gewessler said.

President of Zimbabwe witnesses signing of Skypower Global Master Agreement

12:16 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The president of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has just witnessed the signing of the Skypower Global Master Agreement Adendum at the Zimbabwean pavilion at Sharm el-Sheikh, the Herald Zimbabwe reports.

The Skypower agreement will see a 500 megawatt solar plant set up in the country.

Germany’s climate envoy says talks started ‘quite well’ after agenda fight averted

12:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Germany’s climate envoy Jennifer Morgan says the talks in Egypt “have kicked off quite well” after a potential fight over the agenda was averted when countries agreed to formally debate the issue of financial support to poor nations for the loss and damage they suffer due to global warming.

Morgan said Tuesday that she hopes there will be a “meaningful outcome” on the issue at the two-week talks as well as countries setting out more ambitious targets for cutting emissions and agreeing ways to ensure money flowing toward combating global warming is in line with the targets of the 2015 Paris accord.

“The most vulnerable families (should) know that we stand side by side with them and that there will be more support just there for them when these damages occur,” she told The Associated Press. “How that will look exactly, that’s the negotiation here.”

Asked about the possible impact of the U.S. midterm election on the talks, Morgan said that individual votes “can’t change the fact that we’re in a climate emergency.”

The Biden administration’s recent climate law had given the United States “a higher level of standing” internationally, she said.

Tuvalu joins Vanuatu to call for treaty to phase out fossil fuels

11:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Polynesian island state of Tuvalu has joined Vanuatu to call for an international treaty to phase out the use of fossil fuels.

“The warming seas are starting to swallow our lands – inch by inch,” said Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, on a call to the UN summit. “But the world’s addiction to oil, gas and coal can’t sink our dreams under the waves.”

Tuvalu is the first nation at Cop27 and only the second country in the world to call for what is formally known as the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. It follows Vanuatu, the Pacific island state, that called for a treaty at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.

Our climate correspondent Saphora Smith in Sharm el-Sheikh reports:

Tuvalu joins Vanuatu to call for a treaty to phase out fossil fuels

Africa has the ‘greatest potential to decarbonise the world’, Ghana president says

11:29 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Speaking at Cop27 in Egypt, the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, said: “With her vast land, Africa has the greatest potential to help decarbonise the world by absorbing carbon dioxide through regenerative agriculture that requires less fertiliser and reforestation with strong biodiversity content.

“My government is proud to announce that Ghana will launch projects in these areas, which will tackle at the same time climate change on global and domestic levels and social issues by providing people with dignified and sustainable jobs.

“I am also proud to announce that Ghana has launched her energy transition framework and is co-chair of the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership with the United States.”

Israel and Jordan move forward with water-for-energy deal

11:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Israel and Jordan on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to move ahead with a water-for-energy deal after an initial examination of the project proved it to be feasible.

The idea, first announced a year ago, is for Jordan to build 600 megawatts of solar generating capacity that would be exported to Israel. In return, Israel would provide water-scarce Jordan with 200 million cubic metres of desalinated water.

The MOU was signed at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt at an event hosted by the United Arab Emirates, who in 2020 became the first Gulf state to normalise relations with Israel and has been a partner in the project.

The Middle East is highly vulnerable to climate change and this will be the first such cooperation between the countries.

Confirm ‘proof of life’ family urges UK government as Egyptian Briton enters second day of water strike

11:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The family of British-Egyptian prisoner Alaa Abd El-Fatteh has urged Rishi Sunak not to return from Cop27 without a British official providing “proof of life,” as the activist enters the second day of his water strike which risks his survival.

The activist’s aunt Ahdaf Soueif said the family fears the British government will be “fobbed off” by Egypt following confirmation Rishi Sunak had raised the case with president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The family have primarily urged for Mr El-Fatteh’s release but have also called for him to be allowed consular visits while in prison, writes Thomas Kingsley.

Family of Egyptian Briton urge UK government to confirm ‘proof of life’

In pictures: Second day of Cop27 talks commence in Egypt

10:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

International leaders and special envoys speak on the second day of the climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.

COP27: Small island nations want Big Oil to pay up for climate damage

10:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Small island nations suffering the brunt of climate change want Big Oil to pay for mounting damage from ocean storms and sea-level rise, Antigua’s prime minister told delegates at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt on Tuesday.

The comments by Gaston Browne kicked off the second day of speeches from heads of state and government at the two-week conference in the seaside resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

“The oil and gas industry continues to earn almost 3 billion United States dollars daily in profits,” Browne said, speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States.

“It is about time that these companies are made to pay a global carbon tax on their profits as a source of funding for loss and damage. Profligate producers of fossil fuels have benefited from extortionate profits at the expense of human civilization. While they are profiting, the planet is burning.”

Senegal’s President Macky Sall told the conference poor developing nations in Africa were also insisting on increased funding for adaptation to worsening climate change, and would resist calls for an immediate shift away from fossil fuels that could drive economic growth.

“Let’s be clear, we are in favor of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. But we Africans cannot accept that our vital interests be ignored,” he said.

Tuesday: What will happen today at Cop27?

10:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

World leaders are set to gather for a series of closed-door meetings from today, 8 November, as Cop27 enters its second full day.

This year’s conference is in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, following 2021’s Cop26 in Glasgow.

On Tuesday, leaders of climate-vulnerable countries will advocate for measures to compensate for damage already being wrought by global warming.

Speakers will include Pakistan’s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country was recently hit by devastating floods, and representatives from the small island nations of Tuvalu, and Antigua and Barbuda.

Tuesday: What will happen today at Cop27?

Most anticipated topics on the climate agenda- Part Three

10:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

‘Fundamental reform’ of development banks?

High-level voices have called for an overhaul of international financial institutions. At the annual World Bank meetings last month, the United States and Germany called for “a fundamental reform” of the bank to respond to challenges including climate change on a global scale, rather than country by country.

Some reformers are asking for more grants and concessional loans that would prevent lower- and middle-income countries from having to pay high interest rates.

US special envoy John Kerry said in a speech last month that reforms would be crucial to “address the crisis of this moment,” and that there were proposals that could “unlock several hundred billion dollars in additional MDB [multinational development bank] lending capacity without requiring new shareholder capital” and without risking credit rating downgrades.

Most-watched topics on the climate agenda- Part Two

09:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Paying up for the damage

As host of Cop27, Egypt has made the issue of “loss and damage,” or compensation for losses from climate-related disasters, a focus.

Following a breakthrough at the weekend as this year’s summit began, the issue for the first time is part of the U.N. talks’ formal agenda.

Wealthy countries have resisted creating a funding mechanism that could suggest liability for historic climate damages, but developing countries are united in demanding that a Loss and Damage fund be established.

The United States and the European Union have shown more openness to having a serious discussion, but remain wary of creating a fund, especially as they face domestic pressure to deal with economic weakness and a cost of living crisis caused by high energy prices.

Adapting to a warmer world

High-income countries have yet to meet their pledge to deliver $100 billion a year in climate finance. Only $80 billion per year was delivered in 2019. Nevertheless, the talks will address boosting that annual goal upward from $100 billion from 2025.

To date, about a quarter of that financing has gone to projects for adapting communities for a warmer world.

Low-income and climate-vulnerable countries want to ensure that the share spent on adaptation is doubled by 2025 - a pledge made at last year’s U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland.

That’s still shy of what experts say is needed: a report by the U.N. Trade and Development office estimates adaptation costs in developing countries will total $300 billion in 2030.

Most-watched topics on the climate agenda- Part One

09:31 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Here are some of the most-watched topics on the agenda in the sun-baked resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where forecasters have warned of a possible sixth failed rainy season.

Fossil fuels and backsliding

Countries at last year’s COP26 talks agreed for the first time to “phase down” coal production and trim other fossil fuel subsidies. Voluntary side deals also touted plans to curb fossil fuel financing and to limit planet-warming methane emissions, chiefly from the fossil fuel and agriculture industries.

But the energy disruption caused by war in Europe has led several European Union members to reopen or extend coal plants’ life and to lock in liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments. Meanwhile, China continues to approve new coal mines, and Vietnam and Indonesia seek to boost coal production.

The backsliding by major economies on their promises to shift from fossil fuels has led some nations, especially in Africa, to call for a formal recognition that they should be allowed to develop their fossil fuel reserves.

The United Arab Emirates, a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and host of next year’s COP28 talks, has said it will be “a responsible supplier” of oil and gas for as long as the world needs.

Watch: What’s on the agenda today?

09:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Today is the second day of the Cop27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

This is what’s on today’s agenda:

Large crowd gathers for John Kerry announcement with Michael Bloomberg

09:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Our senior climate correspondent Louise Boyle is on the scene at Cop27.

She has said a large crowd is gathering to watch the US presidential envoy for climate John Kerry for an announcement with Michael Bloomberg.

Stay tuned for live updates:

Family of British-Egyptian on hunger strike calls for leaders at Cop27 to intervene

08:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The family of a prominent jailed activist on a hunger and water strike has called on world leaders at Cop27 to intervene.

Alaa Abdel-Fattah’s mother, Laila Soueif, called for world leaders, including Rishi Sunak, to pressure the Egyptian government to release her son.

“The Egyptian authorities are your friends and proteges not your adversaries. If Alaa dies you too will have blood on your hands,” she said in a video message on Facebook.

Sunak said he raised Abdel-Fattah’s case in his meeting Monday with president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt.

Sunak said he would continue to “press for progress” in Abdel-Fattah’s case, according to Downing Street.Soueif, a university professor, said she waited Monday outside the prison where Abdel-Fattah is being held for a letter, but received nothing.

She planned to go to the prison Tuesday to receive proof that her son is alive.Meanwhile Abdel-Fattah’s sister, Sanaa Seif, is in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh to raise the case of her brother and other jailed activists.

She is scheduled to speak about Egypt’s human rights record in an event on Tuesday along with the Secretary General of Amnesty International Agnes Callamard.

World faces a billion climate refugees if government fails crisis talks, Barbados PM warns

08:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley warned that the world is facing a billion climate refugees if international leaders fail in crisis talks in Sharm el-Sheikh.

She criticised the west for their part in causing climate disasters for developing countries due their high carbon emissions.

Speaking at an event organised by Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, Ms Mottley said: “We were the ones whose blood, sweat and tears financed the industrial revolution.

“Are we now to face double jeopardy by having to pay the cost as a result of those greenhouse gases from the industrial revolution? That is fundamentally unfair.”

She added: “We need to have a different approach, to allow grant-funded reconstruction grants going forward, in those countries that suffer from disaster. Unless that happens, we are going to see an increase in climate refugees. We know that by 2050, the world’s 21 million climate refugees today will become 1 billion.”

Alaa-Abdel Fattah: Sunak ‘stresses UK’s deep concern’ to Egypt’s al-Sisi over jailed British activist

08:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Rishi Sunak has expressed “deep concern” to Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi while raising the case of a British pro-democracy activist jailed by Cairo for much of the past decade, Downing Street has said.

Alarmed MPs have warned that British-Egyptian citizen Alaa Abdel-Fattah “may not live for much longer”, after he announced he would begin a water strike to coincide with the UN’s Cop27 climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.

The 40-year-old writer and software developer – regarded by many as a hero of Egypt’s Arab Spring uprising – has ingested only 100 calories for the past 200 days in protest over Cairo’s refusal to grant him a consular visit, but has intensified his hunger strike as world leaders descend upon Egypt.

Andy Gregory reports.

Sunak raises case of jailed British activist with Egyptian president

Boris Johnson believes ‘very strongly in the green agenda’ - Mel Stride

07:49 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The secretary of state for work and pensions told Sky News that it is unsurprising that Boris Johnson is attending COP27 as he “believed very strongly in the green agenda”.

Mr Johnson’s announcement of his plans to attend the conference was swiftly followed by the prime minister’s U-turn decision to go to the climate summit in Egypt.

World on ‘highway to climate hel’, UN head warns

07:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The world is “on the highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator”, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres has warned at the start of Cop27.

Addressing world leaders at the climate summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, he said “we are in the fight of our lives – and we are losing”, with greenhouse gases still growing and temperatures still rising.

And while the world’s attention is gripped by war in Ukraine, prompting an energy, food and cost of living crisis, and other conflicts, Mr Guterres said: “Climate change is on a different timeline and a different scale.

Rishi Sunak’s key moments at Cop27

07:05 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

British prime minister Rishi Sunak’s whistle-stop visit to the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt marked his first outing on the international stage since he entered No 10 a fortnight ago.

From a chummy meeting with Frech president Emmanuel Macron to refusing to be upstaged by his predecessor, Mr Sunak’s day filled with speeches and diplomatic meetings, went smoothly.

Here is a look at his notable moments at the major climate summit.

Overseas debut: Rishi Sunak’s key moments at Cop27

A trillion dollars is a small price for the damage done to our plane

07:01 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

tOn the principle that the polluters pay, the rich industrialised world has got off lightly for its crimes against the planet.

One of the more controversial items on the United Nations Cop27 summit agenda is the bill for “loss and damage” to the environment of the many poorer countries now critically affected by climate change.

A sum of $1 trillion (a thousand billion dollars) has been suggested as a global total by the UN, in the way of recompense, and to pay for ameliorative and adaptive measures to cope with continuing environmental degradation

.Cue the outrage from the rich world. It’s perfectly true that $1 trillion is a great deal of money in anyone’s language, and especially at a time of distinct economic distress and exceptional pressure on the poor of the rich nations.

Read The Independent’s editorial here.

Editorial: A trillion dollars is a small price for the damage done to our planet

Germany announces funding for ‘Global Shield’

06:14 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

German chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged $170m towards a ‘global shield’ - aimed at helping developing nations suffering damage and losses caused by climate change.

“In our role as G7 presidency, we want to create together with the most vulnerable countries a global shield against climate risks,” he said in a speech at the Cop27 climate conference.

“We will also support those countries hit hardest by climate change in a targeted way in dealing with loss and damage”.

What to watch for day two of Cop27

06:07 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

World leaders will take the stage again today as the Cop27 climate summit enters its second full day.

Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country was recently hit by devastating floods that displaced millions while causing at least $40bn in damages, will address the conference.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU, will also speak today, along with European Council president Charles Michel, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and dozens of others.

Macron calls on US, China to pay their climate share

05:33 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

French president Emmanuel Macron yesterday urged the US, China and other non-European first-world nations to pay their fair share to poorer countries dealing with the impacts of the climate crisis.

“We need the United States and China to step up” on emission cuts and financial aid, Mr Macron told French and African climate campaigners on the sidelines of the Cop27 climate summit, according to AFP.

“Europeans are paying,” he said, adding: “We are the only ones paying.

“Pressure must be put on rich non-European countries, telling them, ‘you have to pay your fair share’.”

UK to announce gas deal with US after Cop27 - report

04:54 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

British prime minister Rishi Sunak is reportedly going to announce a natural gas deal with the US after the Cop27 climate summit.

Britain hopes the United States will promise about 10 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over the coming year, according to a report by The Telegraph.

The discussions between the two countries are in their final stages and an announcement is expected within a fortnight.’

However, it was unclear if the exact amount of gas to be sold by the US would be mentioned when the deal is publicised.

The US earlier this year agreed to supply 15 billion cubic metres of LNG to the EU to help the bloc cope with the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Egyptian rights activists divided over holding Cop27 in ‘climate of fear’

04:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

As world leaders descend on Sharm el-Sheikh for Cop27, Egyptian activists are divided as to whether holding the summit under what they say is one of the most repressive governments in the country’s history amounts to an offence or an opportunity.

“Egypt is enmeshed in a full-scale human rights crisis,” said Hossam Bahgat, a prominent Egyptian human rights activist who says he has been banned from leaving the country since 2016 and has had his assets frozen.

“Our current government has one of the worst records of human rights around the world.”

Rights groups say tens of thousands of government critics including journalists, human rights defenders and activists have been imprisoned under Egyptian president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who was elected into office in 2014 after a military coup.

Saphora Smith reports.

Egyptian rights activists divided over holding Cop27 in ‘climate of fear’

Rishi Sunak rushed off stage at Cop27 event

04:05 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

British prime minister Rishi Sunak was abruptly rushed off stage at a Cop27 event yesterday, leaving members of the audience baffled.

Mr Sunak was sharing the stage with other world leaders when his aides interrupted him, prompting him to leave the event.

There has been no official statement issued by 10 Downing Street to explain the prime minister’s unplanned exit.

Although it has been speculated that Mr Sunak left the event for last-minute preparations for the keynote speech he was due to make later in the afternoon.

One billionaire responsible for a million times more greenhouse gases, says Oxfam

04:00 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

The investments of 125 of the world’s richest billionaires emit an annual average of three million tonnes of Cop27 each year, according to Oxfam.

The annual emissions are more than a million times the average for someone in the bottom 90 per cent of humanity, the report titled ‘Carbon Billionaires’ said.

The world’s richest have a collective $2.4trillion stake in 183 companies and 125 billionaires cumulatively fund 393 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per year, which according to the report is equal to the annual carbon emissions of France.

The report added that each of these billionaires would have to circumnavigate the world almost 16 million times in a private jet to create the same emissions.

Danny Sriskandarajah, Oxfam GB chief executive, said: “It is people in low-income countries who’ve done the least to cause it who are suffering the most - as we are seeing with the devastating drought in East Africa and the catastrophic floods in Pakistan.

“We need governments to tackle this urgently by publishing emission figures for the richest people, regulating investors and corporates to slash carbon emissions and taxing wealth and polluting investments.

“... these billionaire investors at the top of the corporate pyramid have huge responsibility for driving climate breakdown. They have escaped accountability for too long.”

Countries launch partnership to reverse deforestation

03:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Over two dozen countries including the UK have formed a partnership committed to halting and reversing forest loss this decade as part of the climate fight.

Speaking at the Cop27 talks in Egypt, Rishi Sunak said protecting forests was “one of the best ways of getting us back on track” to limit warming to 1.5C – the threshold beyond which the worst impacts of climate change will be felt.

He said the launch of a new partnership to tackle deforestation at Cop27 marked a “moment of great hope for the world’s forests”.

The UK has announced £90m for conservation in the Congo Basin in Africa. Britain is also pledging a further £65m for funding to support indigenous people and local communities at the heart of forest protection.

Takeaways: Calls for reparations, emissions cuts at COP27

03:00 , Joe Middleton

The first full day of the year’s most important summit on climate change, known as COP27, got underway on Monday with urgent calls by leaders to slash greenhouse gas emissions as the planet warms and severe weather events become more frequent and destructive.

Scores of presidents, along with thousands of diplomats, climate negotiators, business leaders, activists and journalists descended on the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh to take part in discussions and negotiations slated to go through Nov. 18.

“Climate change will never stop without our intervention,” said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, opening the day’s session. “Our time here is limited and we must use every second that we have.’’

Takeaways: Calls for reparations, emissions cuts at COP27

Arab states taking ‘steps in right direction’ to tackle climate change, says Egyptian president

02:00 , Joe Middleton

Blow to vulnerable states as Rishi Sunak shuns calls for climate reparations

00:01 , Joe Middleton

Rishi Sunak has dealt a blow to the developing countries hardest-hit by climate change by shunning appeals for the UK to contribute towards reparations for the natural disasters caused by hundreds of years of industrial pollution.

Thirty-year-old demands for a fund to pay for the permanent loss and damage caused by extreme weather were discussed for the first time on the floor of the Cop27 climate change conference in Egypt, with calls for the UK and other rich nations to join Belgium, Denmark and Scotland in committing cash.

But the prime minister made no reference to the topic in his five-minute speech in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, instead recommitting to a 2020 pledge of £11.6bn for climate funding over five years and tripling to £1.5bn the UK’s contribution towards measures to boost resilience against future disasters.

Blow to vulnerable states as Rishi Sunak shuns calls for climate reparations

UN secretary Guterres says we are ‘losing the fight of our lives’ in Cop27 opening speech

Monday 7 November 2022 23:26 , Joe Middleton

Boris Johnson declares himself 'the spirit of Glasgow' at Cop27

Monday 7 November 2022 22:00 , Joe Middleton

‘Birdgirl’ Mya-Rose Craig: Here’s why I won’t be going to Cop27

Monday 7 November 2022 21:31 , Joe Middleton

The fact that the UN’s Climate Change Conference is being held in Sharm El-Sheikh is totally unacceptable, writes Mya-Rose Craig.

‘Birdgirl’ Mya-Rose Craig: Here’s why I won’t be going to Cop27

Round-up of the latest comments at Cop27

Monday 7 November 2022 20:56 , Joe Middleton

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES PRESIDENT SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED AL-NAHYAN

“The UAE is considered a responsible supplier of energy and it will continue playing this role for as long as the world is in need of oil and gas.”

WILLIAM RUTO, PRESIDENT OF KENYA

“The lengthy discussions at COPs with its stalling, delaying tactics and procrastination, that have hampered implementation and delivery is simply cruel and unjust. We cannot afford to spend more time skirting around the real issues, and we must break out of the open-ended process-focused discussions we are trapped in.”

“In the face of impending catastrophe, whose warning signs are already unbearably disastrous, weak action is unwise. No action is dangerous.”

MACKY SALL, PRESIDENT OF SENEGAL AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION

“Even if Africa contributes less than 4% of greenhouse gases, it subscribes to frugal development of carbon, resilient to climate change, for a goal of carbon neutrality in a reasonable timeframe. We are for a green transition that is equitable and just, instead of decisions that jeopardise our development, including universal access to electricity to which 600 million Africans remain deprived.”

MIA MOTTLEY, PRIME MINISTER OF BARBADOS

“How do companies make $200 billion dollars in profits in the last three months and not expect to contribute at least 10 cents in every dollar of profit to a loss and damage fund. This is what our people expect.”

FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA, PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

“We should say clearly the rich countries - the top polluters - are the ones who are most to blame for endangering humanity.”

Blow to vulnerable states as Rishi Sunak shuns calls for climate reparations

Monday 7 November 2022 20:17 , Joe Middleton

Rishi Sunak has dealt a blow to the developing countries hardest-hit by climate change by shunning appeals for the UK to contribute towards reparations for the natural disasters caused by hundreds of years of industrial pollution.

Thirty-year-old demands for a fund to pay for the permanent loss and damage caused by extreme weather were discussed for the first time on the floor of the COP27 climate change conference in Egypt, with calls for the UK and other rich nations to join Belgium, Denmark and Scotland in committing cash.

But the prime minister made no reference to the topic in his five-minute speech at beach resort Sharm el-Sheikh, instead recommitting to a 2020 pledge of £11.6bn for climate funding over five years and tripling to £1.5bn the UK’s contribution towards measures to boost resilience against future disasters.

Saphora Smith and Andrew Woodcock have the latest.

Blow to vulnerable states as Rishi Sunak shuns calls for climate reparations

Italy remains committed to Paris climate targets, says Meloni

Monday 7 November 2022 19:58 , Joe Middleton

Italy’s new right-wing government remains committed to decarbonisation in line with the Paris climate agreement, prime minister Giorgia Meloni told the Cop27 summit today.

Signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement had pledged to achieve a long-term goal of keeping global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the threshold beyond which scientists say climate change risks spinning out of control.

“Despite a very complex international scenario, already affected by the pandemic and further disrupted by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Italy remains strongly committed to pursuing its decarbonization pathway in full compliance with the goals of the Paris agreement,” Meloni said.

“We intend to pursue a just transition to support the affected communities and leave no one behind,” Meloni, speaking in English, added in her first address to a major international summit since she took office last month.

Italy has dramatically reduced its reliance on Russian gas since the invasion of Ukraine in February and Meloni said the country would pursue its energy diversification strategy in partnership with several African countries.

She said nations need to do more to respond adequately to the climate crisis.

“Fighting climate change is a common endeavor which requires full engagement of all countries and pragmatic co-operation among all major global actors. Unfortunately we have to admit that this is not happening,” she added.

Reuters

‘There is an obligation’: Nicola Sturgeon urges climate loss and damage compensation at Cop27

Monday 7 November 2022 19:32 , Joe Middleton

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said there is an “obligation” to provide funding to vulnerable countries suffering loss and damage from the climate crisis.

The Scottish leader was speaking to The Independent in Sharm el-Sheikh at the Cop27 global climate summit which got underway this weekend.

“Loss and damage” refers to the irreparable devastation that a country suffers from the impact of the climate crisis.

Nicola Sturgeon says ‘there is an obligation’ to provide loss and damage compensation

Middle East Green Initiative is a ‘seed of much-needed hope’ for the world, says Pakistan PM

Monday 7 November 2022 18:57 , Joe Middleton

Sunak’s ‘tepid words’ fail to address scale of climate emergency, says social justice campaign group

Monday 7 November 2022 18:16 , Joe Middleton

The social justice campaign group Global Justice Now has criticised Rishi Sunak’s “tepid words” and “underwhelming funding pledge” in his Cop27 speech to delegates.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Rishi Sunak’s tepid words today have failed to address the scale of the climate emergency. His underwhelming funding pledge falls a long way short of the UK’s fair share of climate finance.

“The UK needs to start taking the escalating cost of climate disasters in lower-income countries seriously - and introduce a polluter’s tax on the fossil fuel industry to pay for it.

“Rich countries taking responsibility for their role in causing the climate crisis is key to unlocking the global emissions reductions that can solve it.

“The Prime Minister must recognise that the UK owes the countries facing the first and worst impacts of climate change a heavy debt. Otherwise, it will be yet more bluster and no action.”

Climate and energy security go ‘hand in hand’, says UK PM

Monday 7 November 2022 18:06 , Joe Middleton

British prime minister Rishi Sunak said today that climate and energy security went “hand in hand” and world leaders must act quickly to address the impacts of climate change.

“Climate security goes hand in hand with energy security,” Sunak told a gathering at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt.

“Putin’s abhorrent war in Ukraine, and rising energy prices across the world are not a reason to go slow on climate change. They are a reason to act faster.”

He concluded his national statement at the Sharm El-Sheikh summit by saying “there is room for hope” in the fight against climate change.

The prime minister said: “By honouring the promises we made in Glasgow and by directing public and private finance towards the protection of our planet, we can turn our struggle against climate change into a global mission for new jobs and clean growth.

“And we can bequeath our children a greener planet and a more prosperous future.

“That’s a legacy we could be proud of.

“So as we come together once again in common cause today, there really is room for hope.

“Together, let us fulfil it.”

Pictured: Rishi Sunak speaks at Cop27

Monday 7 November 2022 17:50 , Joe Middleton

No ‘change in direction’ on environment under Sunak, says former minister

Monday 7 November 2022 17:36 , Joe Middleton

Former environment secretary George Eustice said he does not believe there will be a “change in direction” on the environment under a Rishi Sunak administration.

Mr Eustice told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “I don’t see there being any major change in direction on the environment, but obviously what we all recognise is with pressures on the economy, lots of economic challenges globally and pressures on the cost of living at home, that is going to take up a greater share of Rishi Sunak’s time.”

He said that was understandable, but added: “The most important thing is that I want to see that important work that we started on the environment continue and what I’m hearing is that he is going to do that.”

Arab states are taking ‘steps in the right direction’ to tackle climate change, says Egypt’s PM

Monday 7 November 2022 17:14 , Joe Middleton

VOICES: Tom Peck The planet absolutely does not need Boris Johnson trying to save it

Monday 7 November 2022 16:54 , Joe Middleton

He has no international reputation whatsoever, and now no longer prime minister, his steps onto the world stage serve no purpose beyond humiliating us all yet further, writes Tom Peck.

The planet absolutely does not need Boris Johnson trying to save it | Tom Peck

Watch: Middle East aims to be a ‘model to combat climate change’, says Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

Monday 7 November 2022 16:30 , Emily Atkinson

Cop27: $3bn early warning system for extreme weather launched to reach everyone on earth

Monday 7 November 2022 16:19 , Joe Middleton

A global early warning system for increasingly extreme and dangerous weather has been launched at Cop27.

The new Early Warnings for All initiative will reach everyone on earth and will cost around $3billion over the next five years, according to the World Meteorological Organization, the UN body spearheading the program.

Recorded disasters are increasing at a rapid pace and becoming ever more extreme. This year alone has been catastrophic flooding in Pakistan and west and central Africa, crippling drought in South Asia, and heatwaves and wildfires across Europe. The US state of Florida was devastated by Hurrican Ian, a few weeks after Puerto Rico was slammed by Fiona.

Louise Boyle reports.

Early warning system for entire planet launched at Cop27

Sunak hails ‘moment of great hope for world’s forests'

Monday 7 November 2022 16:02 , Emily Atkinson

The launch of a new partnership to conserve the world’s forests at Cop27 marked a “moment of great hope”, Rishi Sunak has said.

The PM was addressing a forest and climate leaders’ event at the UN gathering in Egypt aimed at building on the commitment made by over 140 countries at last year’s Cop26 summit in Glasgow to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation.

Mr Sunak said the partnership “is going to make nature and protecting nature a permanent feature of these Cop meetings and ensure that historical Glasgow promise is delivered.

“This is a moment of great hope for the world’s forests.

“So let’s build on what we have achieved and together let’s secure this wondrous legacy for our children and many generations to come.”

Tom Peck: The planet absolutely does not need Boris Johnson trying to save it

Monday 7 November 2022 15:50 , Emily Atkinson

For a moment, back there, all of two weeks ago, it really did seem like the Tory party was going to return dog-like to its own vomit (the vomit being Boris Johnson), and force the rest of us to eat it too, writes our political sketch writer Tom Peck.

So it was, if nothing else, an act of great public service of the last-but-one prime minister to fly all the way to Sharm el-Sheikh and remind us all of exactly what we absolutely have not been missing.

The planet absolutely does not need Boris Johnson trying to save it | Tom Peck

Sunak says UK remains committed to climate fund

Monday 7 November 2022 15:36 , Emily Atkinson

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has reaffirmed that Britain remains committed to delivering the climate fund.

Asked if he is sticking by what was set out before, the PM told broadcasters in Egypt: “Yeah, we remain committed to the £11.6 billion that we announced last year for international climate finance.

“And actually today... we’re seeing the benefit that that can bring to countries around the world, as we help countries like Kenya, for example, transition to net zero.

“But actually it’s also bringing exciting opportunities for British companies. It’s involving the private sector, which is the right thing to do, but also helping those countries transition to a cleaner future, creating jobs in the process.”

On the timeframe, he said: “The plan was to do this over five years - now the exact pace of this always is dependent on the projects being ready at the right time, but we remain committed to those plans, I’m making that commitment again in my statement later today.”

Sunak insists it’s ‘great’ that Johnson has also attended Cop27

Monday 7 November 2022 15:20 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak has said it is “great” that Boris Johnson is also at the Cop27 summit in Egypt.

The PM told broadcasters: “Oh, it’s great that the former prime minister is here.

“And I think it says something great about the UK that not only have we got the current Prime Minister here, we’ve got a former prime minister here.

“It just demonstrates our leadership on this issue globally.

“And Boris was a stalwart champion of building a greener future. He deserves enormous credit and praise for that.

“And as I said, it’s enormous credit to the UK that we have not just one but also our former prime minister here. That’s the UK leading on tackling climate change, something we should all be proud of.”

Sunak and Macron greet one another in Sharm-el-Sheikh

Monday 7 November 2022 15:01 , Emily Atkinson

Rishi Sunak and French president Emmanuel Macron embraced as they met at the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt.

“Very nice to see you,” Mr Sunak told Mr Macron during their first face-to-face meeting since he entered No 10.

“Lots for us to talk about, right?” he added.

The pair are expected to discuss tackling small-boat crossings in the Channel as the number of arrivals on UK shores continues to grow.

The two sides are apparently closing in on another deal aimed at preventing migrants from risking the crossing.