By: Sr. Marianne Sennick
UN Sustainable Development Goal 13 states: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.” The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is the primary international intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change, referred to as the Conference of the Parties (COP). It held its 27th meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from 6 November – 20 November 2022.
A stark warning from the Panel on the UN Intergovernmental Framework on Climate Change warned that to keep the 1.5 Celsius temperature viable for the planet there must be reductions of 45% emissions by 2030. The world is now on track to reach 2.5 Celsius by the end of the century.
According to the protocol on climate talks, all nations must agree to the outcome document. The primary outcome from the conference was the “Loss and Damage” Agreement which is the creation of a fund to compensate countries most affected by climate change. The countries also agreed to implement the stipulation that they cannot be held liable for climate damage because of any damaging emissions in the atmosphere. The U.S. and Europe also stipulated that China could not benefit from receiving the funds because it is still listed at the United Nations as a developing country even though it is the world’s second largest economy and the largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
Also announced was the Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda to improve the resilience of 4 billion peoples living in the most vulnerable communities. It is comprised of state and non-state actors. High – Level Champions and the Marrakech Partnership working along with the COP Presidency, Egypt.
It includes:
- Climate resilience and sustainable agriculture
- Supporting indigenous communities with nature-based solutions to provide for water security
- Protect 3 billion people by installing early warning systems
- Access to clean cooking for 2.4 billion people
- $140-300 billion dollars for companies to utilize physical climate risk and adaptation plans
Many initiatives were discussed. The disappointment was no banning of coal and absent was any mention of fossil fuels and climate impact in the outcome document.
16 Days of Activism to end Violence Against Women
This awareness and advocacy period begins on November 25 and ends on Human Rights Day December 10. Visit the JCoR website for further information. The Congregations of St. Joseph is a founding member of JCoR.
[Sr. Marianne Sennick is the Congregations of St. Joseph UN-NGO’s main representative. The featured photo is from UN Photo/Mark Garten]