On November 8, while we were saving American democracy from Republicanism, national leaders gathered at COP27 (27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in their latest gesture to save us from our own climate destruction. One by one they stepped up to tout achievements and voice concerns and priorities in regards to human induced climate chaos. It fell well short of outlining adequate responses to climate chaos, though it remains far preferable to divisive breakdown into antagonistic alliances trying to combat global threats with separate national solutions.
Here is the 7+ hour video of world leaders entering statements at COP27.
With weather chaos surging, pressure to do more grows, so this year world leaders decided to move past promising that our children will solve our problems to focus on implementation of numerous climate saving strategies, many of which included making more promises.
As the hours of speeches bustled along, some themes emerged.
First, each speaker carried out their diplomatic duty in displaying obsequious gratitude to King el-Sisi and the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting such a lovely gathering. Most then went on to highlight how unfair climate change has been, with those suffering the most producing the least emissions. The need for fairness and equity were pounded home as multiple speakers parroted that climate action should leave no one behind. None noted the irony of their proclamations or described how equity and fairness could be isolated to climate action.
Leaders also uniformly acknowledged the urgency of our predicament, even though individual nations detailed how they are going above and beyond their obligations. With so many doing so much, how is it that emissions continue climbing to record levels?
Several nations stepped up to warn that displacement and migration would continue to increase. Less devastated nations need to prepare for massive movement. The rights of climate migrants need to be protected, as well, through inclusion of climate refugees in international treaties on refugees.
In blatant displays of their true generosity, the primary culprits of climate devastation, i.e. richer countries with capital, including the US in Biden’s earlier speech, all seemed eager to provide more finance, even as less well off nations keep telling them that this debt trap is not even enough for current losses and damages, and that it is too slow, with too much contractual distrust of borrowers. Developing countries said we need action, not more lending. Developed countries stepped up to say how much we are doing and defended capital finance. Belgium, in particular, emphasized the necessity of capital and private solutions in their framework. They might rethink that capital requirement if the Sahara moves into Southern Europe.
Not to say that the day was all disagreements. There is overwhelming consensus among world leaders that climate change is a threat to national sovereignty, self determination, international trade, social harmony and civilization itself.
Much of the gap between rhetoric and action appears to arise from unwillingness to pay for losses, damages, migration and mitigation. That comes down to feeding and sheltering people, though capital rich counties insist that bankers and financiers must be included.
A few interesting proposals were launched in the process, including making a fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty and using the International Court of Justice as an arbiter and protector of human rights through climate chaos.
To finish off, here are a few highlights from individual state statements and related videos.
Surinam called for incorporating climate into economic recovery plans of Bretton Woods institutes
Portugal announced a green energy corridor with Spain and France for delivering wind and solar energy to the rest on Europe.
Tuvalu joined with Vanuatu in calling for a fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty along the lines of nuclear nonproliferation treaties.
The Pakistani Prime Minister warned how the devastation they felt this year overwhelms current strategies for mitigation, and that loss and damage financing is wholly inadequate.
Somalia joined calls for grant financing to deal with crises such as theirs.
What is evident is that there is no equity or fairness in global climate burden sharing because the nations who produce the least greenhouse gas emissions like Somalia, pay the highest price twice. Firstly, their citizens do not benefit from the developed nations industrialisation and their own nations usually have minimal industrial output or capacity, and secondly, they seldom have the fiscal space or technology and expertise to respond to the effects of the changing climate which directly hampers their development aspirations and citizens’ health and wellbeing.
Bahamas extolled listeners to finally get real about responding to climate forcing.
Vanuatu called again for the IPCC to stop acting in isolation and to listen to their coalition of 85 countries demanding for inclusion of the International Court of Justice in protecting human rights and arbitrating climate impacting actions.