COP27

Earlier in November world leaders gathered in Egypt for the COP27 conference.

Global temperatures

The Conference of the Parties is an opportunity for the leaders to come together to discuss how to tackle climate change. One of the goals for the 27th conference was to agree on ways to stop the world’s average temperature from rising by any more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Global average temperatures have already risen by 1.1 degrees Celsius in the past 150 years.

To rapidly slow down the rising temperatures we need to cut down on the emission of greenhouse gases and increase our efforts around eco-friendly technology. Also on the agenda were discussions around helping developing countries cope with increasingly severe weather conditions.

Climate justice

One hot topic was that of ‘climate justice’. Leaders discussed what is fair in terms of the country’s most responsible for climate change assisting those that are most effected. The wealthiest countries tend to be the ones most responsible and yet developing countries are often hardest hit in terms of severe weather conditions because of climate change. Working together was heralded as the only way to move forward.

Now or never

Rishi Sunak, attending the conference, said that the UK has a responsibility to tackle climate change, invest in green energy, and protect rainforests. The head of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres emphasised that it is now or never with regards tackling climate change; “The global climate fight will be won and lost within this crucial decade.”