COP27 comes at a critical moment. The devastating impacts of climate change are being affected in every corner of the world. From the floods in Pakistan, the heatwaves in Europe and India and droughts and starvation in the Horn of Africa. Although the burden hits the most vulnerable countries and communities which are the least developed and contributors of global green gas emissions.

The Least developed countries (LDCs) are under siege, disrupted by the global food and energy supply chain crisis resulting from the Russian and Ukraine conflict and climate change which also threaten their everyday lives. This only widens the gap between the poor and the rich. The gap is growing from income inequality to climate change vulnerability. However, the COP27 offers a great opportunity to act on the warnings from UN Secretary-General António Guterres that our planet is on a “highway to climate hell” to a better path for a sustainable future for all humanity.

Over 35 thousand participants gathered at the Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from November 6-18, 2022. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the world of nations that have signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was put together in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit. It’s a collective commitment to parties to act on the climate crisis and stabilize greenhouse gas emissions. This year marks the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP) to accelerate action towards the goals under the Paris Agreement and conventions including the most recent Glasgow pact.

The building blocks

• The Paris Agreement

In 2015, 0ver 190 countries gathered for COP21 in Paris to adopt the first-ever global climate pact to slow climate change and build resilient and sustainable economies. The partied Paris Agreement agreed to cut emissions below 2°C or if possible 1.5°C to control global warming temperatures, and Countries agreed to be transparent on their progress record in reducing emissions and finally, to undertake ambitious climate action to adapt and mitigate its effects.  Somalia is among the hundreds of parties that deposited its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession with the UN.

• Adaptation

Climate change is already happening and harming almost everything on this planet. It’s disrupting our way of life, affecting nature and biodiversity, and infrastructure. The latest Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) underscores the devastating impact climate change could have on humanity if the current prospects are not challenged especially by limiting warming to 1.5C. Also, the world needs to build resilience along with the mitigation of green gas emissions; therefore, adaption to the current climate trends is investable to reduce the impact of climate change on humanity. Countries and communities need to adjust their behaviours in responding to the effects of climate change which includes smart agriculture, greening, water storage, renewable energy and building resilient infrastructure to resist extreme weather conditions and temperatures.

• Loss & Damage

Sine 2020, devasting droughts, shortage of rainfall and extreme locus evasion affect millions of Somalis in meeting their basic needs putting their lives at risk of famine. These losses caused by climate change are exacerbating the additional livelihood crisis already struggling the people. Somalia is among the least developed countries and is also the least emitter in the world but it’s burdened with the effects of climate change. Therefore, in such seniors adaption might not be an option called “Loss and Damage”. So, facilitating loss and damage requires financing and that is why the global south is demanding carbon credit and accountability against the global north.

• Just Transition

Tackling climate change requires a comprehensive approach including shifting from fusil energy to clean renewable energies. This enhances clean air and the environment by reducing pollution. Countries are now exploring renewable energy as a source of energy from solar, windpipes and atomic.  Embracing just transition will reduce the negative impacts of climate-related hazards on communities, nature and unrestricted.

• Nationally determined contributions (NDCs)

Advancing the Paris Agreement requires the establishment of national climate plans known as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which indicate detailed plans for how parties to reduce emissions and budget for adaptions to climate action. As part of the Paris Agreement, countries review their NDCs regularly every five years or less to match the scale of intervention in the course of climate change to avoid its harsh consequences. Well-developed NDCs include targets, timeframes, adaptation, and financial plans to implement climate goals. As a key element in the Paris Agreement’s ambition mechanism, countries will engage in the global stocktake every five years to assess countries’ collective progress toward the Agreement’s long-term goals. This stocktaking process is aimed at informing the next round of NDCs to increase their level of ambition; it also offers the opportunity to evaluate the need for enhanced action and support.

Tasks at Hand

COP27 has four main goals, it’s based on building on the success and commitments and pledges from the Rio Convention in 1992 to the latest climate pact of Glasgow 2021. These goals are the current task to look ahead to act on as the theme of the highlights “Together for Implementation” by all the parties to scale climate actions through cutting emissions, adaptation, global solidarity, and financing climate actions.

1. Mitigation

According to the latest IPCC Reports, the world temperature is increasing dramatically which could be a pathway for catastrophic extinction. COP27 parties should shift the ambitious plans underscored in their NDCs and adaptation pans into action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5.

2. Adaptation

To mitigate the risk of climate change, and build resilient economies, the adoption of adaptation plans and communication is a must. Along with all the interventions to counter climate change, countries also adjust their behaviours towards socio-economic development and act on climate conventions.

3. Finance

Developed countries should show solidarity with the global south and least vulnerable countries in financing adaptation and loss and damage. The largest emitters promised a number of financial pledges to assist with climate action, which has fallen short since the Paris Agreement. Now, at COP27, the developing is holding accountable to finance climate actions. Climate finances are mainly aimed to compensate for the loss and damage and implement adaptation plans for resilient and sustainable communities.

4. Collaboration

Climate change is impacting people and the planet everywhere in the world. Taking climate action requires collective action within the countries and parties as well. Multisectoral cooperation between the private sector, the public, academia and communities are essential to delivering result-based climate action as well as ensuring progress to active climate targets with the conversions. Also, a collaboration between the developed and developing world is inevitable to face the crisis and build a sustainable future for humanity.

Looking Forward

The negotiations and discussion of COP27 are mainly aimed to turn the ambitious plans into action as the warnings are deteriorating at a fast pace. The Least developed countries are demanding solidarity, accountability and collaboration to advance their national commitment since the burden of climate impact falls on them. There is huge optimism that the outcome of COP27 will be included financial commitments for loss and damage and adaption since it’s been among the main agenda item as proposed by the G77 and China. If parties commit their plans and commitment, humanity will survive and thrive again.