CAIRO – 6 November 2022: The 1st day of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference [COP27] was inaugurated on Sunday in Sharm el Shiekh city, In the midst of a remarkable number of attendees from all over the world.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi said that he is looking forward for the inauguration of the summit’s activities.
Welcoming COP27 guests
He added that “the current session of the Climate Summit comes at a very sensitive time, in which our world is exposed to existential threats and unprecedented challenges, affecting the very survival of our planet and our ability to live on it.”
“There is no doubt that these dangers and challenges require quick action by all countries to develop a road map to rescue, protect the world from the effects of climate change.” Sisi added.
بكل فخر واعتزاز وتشرف بالمسئولیة؛ أتطلع لافتتاح فعالیات الدورة الـ27 من مؤتمر الأطراف لاتفاقیة الأمم المتحدة بمدینة شرم الشیخ. "#COP27 الإطاریة حول تغیر المناخ”
— Abdelfattah Elsisi (@AlsisiOfficial) November 6, 2022
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He affirmed that: “Egypt is looking forward to the conference to go from the promises stage to the implementation with concrete measures, building on the foregoing, especially the outcomes of the Glasgow Summit and the Paris Agreement.”
Egypt’s First lady Entissar El Sisi also welcomed all guests, officials and leaders participating at to COP27 Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.
She wrote on her fakebook account: “I welcome all the dear guests of Egypt to COP27 Summit, in the City of Peace ‘Sharm El-Sheikh’, and I look forward to this Summit to come up with decisive measures to protect our planet from the threat of climate change.”
“I wish all world leaders success in their mission at this extraordinary summit,” Entissar El Sisi said.
Handing COP presidency
During the first day, which included handing over the COP presidency from Alok Sharma, the president of Glasgow’s COP26, to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry included speeches for Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Hoesung Lee, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Stiell along with FM Shoukry and Sharma.
In his speech, Shoukry thanked all participants for their trust in Egypt, reflected in choosing it to host "the most important and largest international event."
Shoukry began his speech by saying he is certain Egypt will receive all the support from the participants to achieve together our targets. For its part, Egypt will endeavor to facilitate the best conditions for all participants from governmental and non-governmental entities to contribute to the hoped outcome of COP27.
In COP27, parties need to be candid about two facts, according to Shoukry:
1 – Climate action over the past decades has been marred by polarization, slowing down progress in negotiations. Shoukry emphasized that the negotiations are not detached from reality and that all lose if one party thinks it can make gains at the expense of another.
2 – There are several concerns over the state of funding and mobilization. The vow to allocate $100 billion a year for climate actions has not been fulfilled. The funding is mainly provided via loans, and it favors the reduction of emissions to adaptation efforts.
In reference to the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, Shoukry acknowledged that international political turmoil has indeed impacted all countries. “But if some think this would hamper our concerted climate action, this must be proven wrong from right here in Sharm el-Sheikh. I call on you to prove to the world that we understand the magnitude of the challenge and have the political will needed to face it.”
“It is time to move on from negotiations and vows to a stage where execution is a priority. The bar of ambition for every country should also be raised on a par with their capabilities. I applaud every country that updated their nationally determined contributions, including Egypt. I hereby, surely representing all of you, urge all states to follow suit, especially that a recent evaluation of contributions indicated that they are not commensurate with the goals of [the Paris Agreement],” Shoukry added.
The minister also called for more non-governmental participation, such as the private sector, international banks and institutions, the civil society, youth communities, and indigenous people. He highlighted that Egypt consulted with these parties in all preparations of COP27, whether in presidential initiatives, thematic days, and in COP27 sessions at the level of presidents and prime ministers.
On a positive note, Shoukry said climate action has borne fruit despite its slow pattern. Renewable energy is booming, which led to a reduction in its prices. Adaptation technology in the field of water regulation and agriculture has advanced noticeably. Public awareness has also increased, and the contributions of civil society and researchers, local governments, and women have also increased.
Shoukry also deeply thanked the U.K. and Alok Sharma, the president of COP26, for close coordination with Egypt for a year to ensure a smooth transition of the presidency in a way that builds upon the political momentum that was created in Glasgow last year.
During Hoesung Lee speech, he reiterated that financial inflows are so tiny compared to current climate dangers.
Lee's statements came during COP 27 procedural session at Sharm El Sheikh, where he pointed out that the voice of science cannot be more significant than now in showing the severity of climate change.
The IPCC chair equally underlined that the chance the current generation has to face climate change may not be available to future generations.
As for Simon Stiell, he said that a new era begins today...Everyone will be held accountable."
In that context, he elaborated that "business has to adhere to Paris Agreement and the UNFCCC," asserting that "those who want to violate the agreements should not be allowed to cripple the group work."
"Negotiations must turn into action...All human behavior must be aligned with Paris Agreement… The pandemic and the geo-political crisis should not be obstacles in the face of fulfilling our pledges," Stiell added.
The international official noted again that "we must reinforce the principles of transparency and accountability in the field of climate action," underlining that there are dozens of countries that must deploy more efforts toward fulfilling their national climate obligations.
Expressing appreciation to the role of NGOs, the UNFCCC executive secretary underscored that he is keen on listening to NGOs, and learning about what they have to offer.
"I would know who you’re by listening to your answers," UNFCC Executive Secretary said quoting late Egyptian Novelist Naguib Mahfouz, stressing that "we must move from understanding the problem to setting a plan."
Press conference
A joint press conference was held later in Sharm El Sheikh following handing the COP presidency. Attended at the conference FM Shoukry along with Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Simon Stiell.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that facing climate change challenges should be the world’s first priority, and “that no other global circumstances should distract us not to go forward.”
“The circumstances that we are facing globally today should not distract us not to go forward and meet the challenge we are facing. We should not take the easy road to go back. This is the main priority to the world ..we have seen the consequences and losses and that’s why we need to go forward to zero emissions.” Egypt’s Foreign Minister said.
He added that: “I think everybody is recognizing the impacts and the economic challenges which became quite a burden to the world, my advocate would be that we should no allow the circumstances that we are facing today to distract us. We should go forward and meet the challenge and not to let in anyway other things take advantage to make us take the easy road and go back. There is no room to lack behind but we should go forward.”
Answering a question regarding the African countries’ situation, Shoukry said that the African countries “have suffered the most from climate change and have shown their readiness to assume their responsibilities to confront climate change, but they need support for their ability to adapt.”
He added that “The issue of financing is an important issue so that African countries can continue their path towards sustainable development.”
He affirmed that “African countries are an original party in the negotiating process and that “ we seek to make the current negotiations supportive for African countries to assume their responsibilities and tasks," Shoukry said
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell also said during a press conference that the coming weeks “will be focusing on taking actions and real steps to reduce emissions, create a safer world.”
Regarding the situation on China and the United States, Stiell said: “we know where the majority of emotions are generated and contributing. When it comes to cooperation and international responsibilities, all parties know what they need to do and when they should do it.”
The heads of state and government will deliver their national statements on November 7 and 8 at the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit, one day after the kick-off of the two-week conference. The Egyptian Presidency announced that 121 heads of states and governments will participate in the conference.
US President Joe Biden will not attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit but he will participate in the conference on November 11 “to advance the global climate fight and help the most vulnerable build resilience to climate impacts, and he will highlight the need for the world to act in this decisive decade,” according to a statement from the White House.
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