Spirits were surprisingly high at the start of COP. The agreement to put loss and damage on the agenda – which was reached fairly quickly by summit standards- generated optimism. But, as is so often the case, there is a fine print. Legal claims or compensation are not included in the agenda agreement, reports Bernhard Poetter from Sharm el-Sheikh.
Rishi Sunak’s climate plans also need to be looked at closely. Britain’s new prime minister is committed to the net-zero target. However, he has demoted some climate activists from his cabinet. Moreover, he supports the construction of new nuclear power plants. But this is not the right approach for a rapid energy transition, writes Philippa Nutall.
At the climate conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a clear statement. Even with the current energy crisis, Germany remains committed to the coal phase-out “without any ifs or buts”. Regarding the issue of “losses and damages,” the German government wants to provide greater support to affected countries. Scholz himself stressed that the countries would be judged by their concrete actions.
That is true! Our team at COP will closely follow the promises and negotiations in the coming days. We hope that there will be many more reasons for optimism over the next two weeks.
The COP27 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh got off to a surprisingly positive start. Because the controversial topic of “loss and damage” was put on the agenda right at the beginning and without a lengthy debate, delegates and observers expressed cautious optimism for the upcoming negotiations. However, everyone is aware that nothing has been achieved just yet.
Meanwhile, high-profile speakers on the first day of the COP seemed determined to make progress during this “COP of implementation”. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, for example, warned that it was scandalous that the climate issue was being given lower priority because of other problems.
The 1.5-degree goal “is in intensive care,” Guterres said at the start of the conference. The issue of losses and damages “can no longer be swept under the rug.” The funding for this should be financed from the excess profits of fossil fuel companies, according to the UN secretary-general. The good news, however, is that “we know what to do and we have the financial and technological tools to get the job done.”
Over the weekend, the nations agreed on the agenda – which usually sparks lengthy debates. Of the eight proposals that various countries wanted to put on the agenda, only loss and damage made it.
But only with several diplomatic limitations. The topics that now will be discussed are those that “relate to financing arrangements responding to loss and damage.” But the concerns from the industrialized countries on this were included in a footnote:
Other proposals did not make it onto the agenda, according to an internal COP presidency overview available to Climate.Table.
Other agenda proposals also failed to find a majority. The called-for broader discussion on the following topics is unlikely to happen:
All these issues will now be only addressed informally. However, they can be mentioned by the COP presidency in the political “Cover Decision” at the end of the conference.
The relatively smooth adoption of the loss and damage item was met with cautious applause at the conference. Saleemul Huq, an expert with Bangladesh think tank ICCAD who also long campaigned on the issue as an advisor to vulnerable states, welcomed the decision. “We hope to make serious progress toward getting a funding facility for loss and damage (FFLD).”
For David Ryfish of the environment and development organization Germanwatch, one thing is clear: “Many had braced themselves for long battles over the agenda. It adds to the positive mood that it didn’t turn out that way.” And Catherine Abreu of the climate think tank E3G also spoke of a “small victory” that led to a “positive mood” amongst the most vulnerable countries. But it is open whether this optimism will last till the end of the conference.
He will be there after all: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will attend COP27. Initially, the word was that he would stay at home to deal with more pressing domestic issues. However, amid growing British and international pressure, the new PM declared, “There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change. That is why I will attend COP27 next week to deliver on Glasgow’s legacy of building a secure and sustainable future.”
On Sunday, a Downing Street source told the Daily Telegraph that the British Prime Minister had plans to “step up progress and support” for developing countries suffering the worst effects of climate change. In his COP speech, Sunak then said, “Putin’s abhorrent war in Ukraine, and rising energy prices across the world are not a reason to go slow on climate change.”
Last year’s climate summit in Glasgow is considered a relatively successful COP. Under the leadership of British climate envoy Alok Sharma, the final details of the “rulebook” in the Paris Agreement were adopted there, among other things. But whether and how the new British government will continue its climate policy leadership is unclear one year after Glasgow.
Sunak has not sent any clear signals since taking office.
Sunak was in charge of finance as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Boris Johnson’s government and already supported the country’s net-zero targets back then. Still, his climate policy track record as finance minister was mixed:
As the new prime minister, Sunak promises to form a government “of all talents.” However, this is not reflected in the climate issue:
No one can say whether this cabinet is a bit greener than the previous one. Will Sunak make climate policy a priority? Experts gradually begin to lose this hope. Sunak’s opposition to fracking only shows that he is sticking to his party’s 2019 manifesto – at least for now.
Burke says energy decisions are likely to depend on the costs and the confidence of investors in the UK. He points to the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power plant and oil and gas development licenses approved under Truss’ leadership. A green light from the government does not mean the projects will be realized. Burke believes investors may increasingly turn against expensive, risky fossil fuels.
The Sizewell nuclear power plant is part of extensive plans to build eight new nuclear power plants. However, the only nuclear plant currently under construction, Hinkley Point, already exceeds its budget by £3 billion and is already at least a year behind schedule. To make matters worse, Sizewell would likely increase the electricity price for customers – not a good selling point in the midst of an energy crisis.
There is also the time factor: Construction takes time – and the UK has committed itself under the Paris Agreement to cut emissions by 68 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and to obtain all of the UK’s electricity from low-carbon sources by 2035. According to National Grid, the UK’s utility company, the share of zero-carbon energy in the UK’s electricity mix will increase from less than 20 percent in 2010 to nearly 50 percent in 2021. Nevertheless, the British government stressed in November that Sizewell was not under scrutiny and construction would continue.
The decisions of the Sunak government on other issues will also have an impact on climate protection measures. The Truss government planned to suspend 2,400 EU laws still in effect in the United Kingdom despite Brexit. If this happens, “investment in the energy transition in the UK will be frozen,” Burke said. “The private sector will not invest if there is uncertainty. Investors need clarity and predictability.”
The Autumn Statement, which has been postponed to Nov. 17 and will outline the government’s response to the economic crisis, will also likely be an important moment for climate and energy policy. “If the government passes large savings measures, it will discourage investment,” Ward says.
If the UK wants to remain a climate protection pioneer, it will have to prove that it is serious about cutting emissions and transforming its energy system. To do this, the government will have to:
Sunak repeatedly reiterates his commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. But that would now require action proving that this goal can be achieved. And it currently does not look that way: The Climate Change Committee, a government advisory body, warned in its latest progress report that “tangible progress is lagging the policy ambition.” Philippa Nutall, Brussels/London
William Ruto was only sworn into office in mid-September. Since then, Kenya’s new president has left no doubt that the fight against climate change will play a central role in his government. On the first day of COP, Ruto said, “in the face of impending catastrophe, whose warning signs are already unbearably disastrous, weak action is unwise; no action is dangerous.” He criticized “open-ended, process-focused discussions” and “delaying tactics” at climate conferences.
In his inaugural speech in front of 60,000 people in the packed Kasarani sports stadium, he made an ambitious promise: His government would quickly increase the share of renewable energies to 100 percent as early as 2030.
The east African economic heavyweight already generates 75 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily geothermal and hydropower. Germany’s share was just under 50 percent in the first half of 2022.
In his inaugural speech, the 55-year-old Ruto presented himself, also with a view to climate change, as he had portrayed himself in his election campaign: As a man who had made it to the top through his own strength and who still orients his political actions to the interests of the “ordinary” people.
Ruto was born in December 1966 and had a humble upbringing. After studying botany and zoology, he started his political career under the former authoritarian ruler Daniel arap Moi. Over the years, he held several cabinet posts. He served as deputy president of Kenya between 2013 and 2022. Today, Ruto is one of the richest Kenyans, with an estimated wealth of $450 million. He owns a ranch of more than 1,000 hectares, a poultry farm and invested in the hotel industry. He is unable to convincingly explain where his wealth comes from.
“In our country, women and men, young people, farmers, workers and local communities suffer the consequences of climate emergency,” said the newly sworn-in President. And he concluded, “We must act urgently to keep global heating levels below 1.5 Celsius, help those in need and end addiction to fossil fuels.” With these words, he echoed the United Nations Secretary-General’s calls to reduce the world’s dependence on coal, oil and gas.
Ten days later, Ruto also brought up the issue before the United Nations General Assembly. Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia currently face the worst drought in four decades. The lives of 20 million people are threatened by the consequences of the climate crisis, Ruto told the UN General Assembly. Wells and water points are drying up.
This not only endangers the lives of people and animals, but also agriculture. Because of the predicted poor harvests, food prices – which are already unaffordable for many people – could further rise. “We cannot afford to waste another moment debating the merits of doing something vis a vis doing nothing,” Ruto warned. “It will soon be too late to reverse the course of events.”
In a guest article for the British Guardian in early October, Ruto once again emphasized the need to move away from fossil fuels. He also pointed to the economic potential that lies in the transition to renewable energy. “Plummeting costs make clean energy the most economical choice,” Ruto wrote in the Guardian. “A transition to clean energy (…) will create jobs, protect local economies and accelerate the sustainable industrialization of Africa.”
Ruto’s clear position is a win for the continent, as he will take over the position as Chairman of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change from his predecessor Kenyatta – making him the continent’s highest decision-making body on climate issues.
During the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Ruto will represent the continent in negotiations for providing funding and technology to help countries cope with the impacts of climate change. He also announced plans to hold his own continental summit on climate change next year. Bettina Ruehl
Spirits were surprisingly high at the start of COP. The agreement to put loss and damage on the agenda – which was reached fairly quickly by summit standards- generated optimism. But, as is so often the case, there is a fine print. Legal claims or compensation are not included in the agenda agreement, reports Bernhard Poetter from Sharm el-Sheikh.
Rishi Sunak’s climate plans also need to be looked at closely. Britain’s new prime minister is committed to the net-zero target. However, he has demoted some climate activists from his cabinet. Moreover, he supports the construction of new nuclear power plants. But this is not the right approach for a rapid energy transition, writes Philippa Nutall.
At the climate conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a clear statement. Even with the current energy crisis, Germany remains committed to the coal phase-out “without any ifs or buts”. Regarding the issue of “losses and damages,” the German government wants to provide greater support to affected countries. Scholz himself stressed that the countries would be judged by their concrete actions.
That is true! Our team at COP will closely follow the promises and negotiations in the coming days. We hope that there will be many more reasons for optimism over the next two weeks.
The COP27 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh got off to a surprisingly positive start. Because the controversial topic of “loss and damage” was put on the agenda right at the beginning and without a lengthy debate, delegates and observers expressed cautious optimism for the upcoming negotiations. However, everyone is aware that nothing has been achieved just yet.
Meanwhile, high-profile speakers on the first day of the COP seemed determined to make progress during this “COP of implementation”. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, for example, warned that it was scandalous that the climate issue was being given lower priority because of other problems.
The 1.5-degree goal “is in intensive care,” Guterres said at the start of the conference. The issue of losses and damages “can no longer be swept under the rug.” The funding for this should be financed from the excess profits of fossil fuel companies, according to the UN secretary-general. The good news, however, is that “we know what to do and we have the financial and technological tools to get the job done.”
Over the weekend, the nations agreed on the agenda – which usually sparks lengthy debates. Of the eight proposals that various countries wanted to put on the agenda, only loss and damage made it.
But only with several diplomatic limitations. The topics that now will be discussed are those that “relate to financing arrangements responding to loss and damage.” But the concerns from the industrialized countries on this were included in a footnote:
Other proposals did not make it onto the agenda, according to an internal COP presidency overview available to Climate.Table.
Other agenda proposals also failed to find a majority. The called-for broader discussion on the following topics is unlikely to happen:
All these issues will now be only addressed informally. However, they can be mentioned by the COP presidency in the political “Cover Decision” at the end of the conference.
The relatively smooth adoption of the loss and damage item was met with cautious applause at the conference. Saleemul Huq, an expert with Bangladesh think tank ICCAD who also long campaigned on the issue as an advisor to vulnerable states, welcomed the decision. “We hope to make serious progress toward getting a funding facility for loss and damage (FFLD).”
For David Ryfish of the environment and development organization Germanwatch, one thing is clear: “Many had braced themselves for long battles over the agenda. It adds to the positive mood that it didn’t turn out that way.” And Catherine Abreu of the climate think tank E3G also spoke of a “small victory” that led to a “positive mood” amongst the most vulnerable countries. But it is open whether this optimism will last till the end of the conference.
He will be there after all: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will attend COP27. Initially, the word was that he would stay at home to deal with more pressing domestic issues. However, amid growing British and international pressure, the new PM declared, “There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change. That is why I will attend COP27 next week to deliver on Glasgow’s legacy of building a secure and sustainable future.”
On Sunday, a Downing Street source told the Daily Telegraph that the British Prime Minister had plans to “step up progress and support” for developing countries suffering the worst effects of climate change. In his COP speech, Sunak then said, “Putin’s abhorrent war in Ukraine, and rising energy prices across the world are not a reason to go slow on climate change.”
Last year’s climate summit in Glasgow is considered a relatively successful COP. Under the leadership of British climate envoy Alok Sharma, the final details of the “rulebook” in the Paris Agreement were adopted there, among other things. But whether and how the new British government will continue its climate policy leadership is unclear one year after Glasgow.
Sunak has not sent any clear signals since taking office.
Sunak was in charge of finance as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Boris Johnson’s government and already supported the country’s net-zero targets back then. Still, his climate policy track record as finance minister was mixed:
As the new prime minister, Sunak promises to form a government “of all talents.” However, this is not reflected in the climate issue:
No one can say whether this cabinet is a bit greener than the previous one. Will Sunak make climate policy a priority? Experts gradually begin to lose this hope. Sunak’s opposition to fracking only shows that he is sticking to his party’s 2019 manifesto – at least for now.
Burke says energy decisions are likely to depend on the costs and the confidence of investors in the UK. He points to the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power plant and oil and gas development licenses approved under Truss’ leadership. A green light from the government does not mean the projects will be realized. Burke believes investors may increasingly turn against expensive, risky fossil fuels.
The Sizewell nuclear power plant is part of extensive plans to build eight new nuclear power plants. However, the only nuclear plant currently under construction, Hinkley Point, already exceeds its budget by £3 billion and is already at least a year behind schedule. To make matters worse, Sizewell would likely increase the electricity price for customers – not a good selling point in the midst of an energy crisis.
There is also the time factor: Construction takes time – and the UK has committed itself under the Paris Agreement to cut emissions by 68 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 and to obtain all of the UK’s electricity from low-carbon sources by 2035. According to National Grid, the UK’s utility company, the share of zero-carbon energy in the UK’s electricity mix will increase from less than 20 percent in 2010 to nearly 50 percent in 2021. Nevertheless, the British government stressed in November that Sizewell was not under scrutiny and construction would continue.
The decisions of the Sunak government on other issues will also have an impact on climate protection measures. The Truss government planned to suspend 2,400 EU laws still in effect in the United Kingdom despite Brexit. If this happens, “investment in the energy transition in the UK will be frozen,” Burke said. “The private sector will not invest if there is uncertainty. Investors need clarity and predictability.”
The Autumn Statement, which has been postponed to Nov. 17 and will outline the government’s response to the economic crisis, will also likely be an important moment for climate and energy policy. “If the government passes large savings measures, it will discourage investment,” Ward says.
If the UK wants to remain a climate protection pioneer, it will have to prove that it is serious about cutting emissions and transforming its energy system. To do this, the government will have to:
Sunak repeatedly reiterates his commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. But that would now require action proving that this goal can be achieved. And it currently does not look that way: The Climate Change Committee, a government advisory body, warned in its latest progress report that “tangible progress is lagging the policy ambition.” Philippa Nutall, Brussels/London
William Ruto was only sworn into office in mid-September. Since then, Kenya’s new president has left no doubt that the fight against climate change will play a central role in his government. On the first day of COP, Ruto said, “in the face of impending catastrophe, whose warning signs are already unbearably disastrous, weak action is unwise; no action is dangerous.” He criticized “open-ended, process-focused discussions” and “delaying tactics” at climate conferences.
In his inaugural speech in front of 60,000 people in the packed Kasarani sports stadium, he made an ambitious promise: His government would quickly increase the share of renewable energies to 100 percent as early as 2030.
The east African economic heavyweight already generates 75 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, primarily geothermal and hydropower. Germany’s share was just under 50 percent in the first half of 2022.
In his inaugural speech, the 55-year-old Ruto presented himself, also with a view to climate change, as he had portrayed himself in his election campaign: As a man who had made it to the top through his own strength and who still orients his political actions to the interests of the “ordinary” people.
Ruto was born in December 1966 and had a humble upbringing. After studying botany and zoology, he started his political career under the former authoritarian ruler Daniel arap Moi. Over the years, he held several cabinet posts. He served as deputy president of Kenya between 2013 and 2022. Today, Ruto is one of the richest Kenyans, with an estimated wealth of $450 million. He owns a ranch of more than 1,000 hectares, a poultry farm and invested in the hotel industry. He is unable to convincingly explain where his wealth comes from.
“In our country, women and men, young people, farmers, workers and local communities suffer the consequences of climate emergency,” said the newly sworn-in President. And he concluded, “We must act urgently to keep global heating levels below 1.5 Celsius, help those in need and end addiction to fossil fuels.” With these words, he echoed the United Nations Secretary-General’s calls to reduce the world’s dependence on coal, oil and gas.
Ten days later, Ruto also brought up the issue before the United Nations General Assembly. Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia currently face the worst drought in four decades. The lives of 20 million people are threatened by the consequences of the climate crisis, Ruto told the UN General Assembly. Wells and water points are drying up.
This not only endangers the lives of people and animals, but also agriculture. Because of the predicted poor harvests, food prices – which are already unaffordable for many people – could further rise. “We cannot afford to waste another moment debating the merits of doing something vis a vis doing nothing,” Ruto warned. “It will soon be too late to reverse the course of events.”
In a guest article for the British Guardian in early October, Ruto once again emphasized the need to move away from fossil fuels. He also pointed to the economic potential that lies in the transition to renewable energy. “Plummeting costs make clean energy the most economical choice,” Ruto wrote in the Guardian. “A transition to clean energy (…) will create jobs, protect local economies and accelerate the sustainable industrialization of Africa.”
Ruto’s clear position is a win for the continent, as he will take over the position as Chairman of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change from his predecessor Kenyatta – making him the continent’s highest decision-making body on climate issues.
During the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Ruto will represent the continent in negotiations for providing funding and technology to help countries cope with the impacts of climate change. He also announced plans to hold his own continental summit on climate change next year. Bettina Ruehl
