Concern’s Climate Youth Ambassador bringing messages from Irish people to COP27
Concern Worldwide’s Climate Youth Ambassador Jenny Salmon will bring climate action messages collected from Irish people to COP27 in Egypt next week.
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What is COP27 and why is it important?
Over 30,000 people are expected to travel to Egypt over the coming days ahead COP27, where solutions to tackle the climate crisis are set to be discussed.
But what is COP27 and how could it affect some of the world's most vulnerable people? Read on to find out more...
What is COP27?
The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is a meeting of Heads of State, negotiators, activists, diplomats and lobbyists that has taken place annually since 1995.
The parties in question are the nations that signed the original UN climate agreement in 1992.
This year is the 27th COP gathering and will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 18.
What will happen at COP27?
COP27 plans to build on the outcomes of COP26 to deliver action on an array of issues critical to tackling the current climate emergency. These range from reducing greenhouse gas emissions, building resilience and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change; to delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries.
This COP, like all COPs before it, seeks renewed solidarity between countries, to deliver on the landmark agreement for climate, the Paris Agreement.
COP27 will be divided to focus on key themes, including:
Finance Day
Science Day
Youth & Future Generations Day
Decarbonisation Day
Adaptation & Agriculture Day
Gender Day
Water Day
Ace & Civil Society Day
Energy Day
Biodiversity Day
Solutions Day
Why is climate change so important?
Climate change is happening right now and increasing levels of hunger and poverty in parts of the world that have contributed the least to the climate crises.
We have seen the devastating impact of climate change in places like Pakistan, where 33 million people were affected by recent floods and in the Horn of Africa, which is on the brink of famine after four consecutive failed rainy seasons.
Inspiring a generation of climate activists
What does Concern want to be achieved at COP27?
Concern’s Advocacy Manager Sally Tyldesley will be travelling to Egypt for COP27 and says action is needed.
She said: “The progress made at COP26 was worlds away from what was needed, so we go to COP27 with greater determination to make sure politicians live up to their responsibilities to some of the world’s poorest people who are bearing the brunt of climate change.
“At Concern, we are clear that the way that we respond to climate change needs to be in line with the principles of equity and climate justice.
“High-income countries owe a moral and ecological debt to developing countries for the damage they have done to the environment. This debt includes financial responsibilities.
“Those countries most responsible for climate change are also most able to cover the costs of dealing with the impacts.
“High-income countries – like those in the EU, Ireland, UK and US – must provide the means of implementation to allow poorer countries to prepare for increasing climate impacts and to follow a clean, climate-friendly development pathway.
“Developed countries have committed to providing and mobilising $100 billion of climate finance each year between 2020 and 2025. However, this target has not been met.”
