Sharm El-Sheik — With the climate talks in Sharm El-Sheik officially ending on Friday, attention is turning to the final outcomes of COP27 and what will make it into the official communique: the cover decision. Parties face an urgent global call to build on, and not backslide from, the Glasgow Climate Pact, and to send a political message about the global community’s response to the mounting climate emergency. This panel will discuss the latest developments and perspectives on what would make this COP a success or failure.
Despite a growing number of statements from Parties calling for the phaseout of all fossil fuels to appear in the cover decision, rumors abound that it may instead contain language promoting fossil gas as a ‘bridge fuel” or opening the doors to other dangerous false climate solutions – including carbon capture and storage, blue hydrogen and technological carbon dioxide removals. Anything short of an unqualified phaseout of all fossil fuels would be at odds with the science and reports issued by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the UN High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero, which made it very clear that there is no role for new fossil fuel projects in a fast, just and equitable energy transition.
Any cover decision must also reflect the importance of people-centered and human rights-based climate action, which the IPCC recognizes as one of the most effective ways to urgently address the ongoing climate breakdown.
The press conference will address the current state of the cover text and how Parties are — or are not — incorporating the demands and perspectives of affected communities around the world.
WHEN: November 17th, 5:30 pm, Egypt time (GMT +2)
WHERE: Luxor Press Room, UNFCCC webcast
WHO:
Moderator:
-
Sébastien Duyck, Human Rights and Climate Change Campaign Manager and Senior Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Speakers:
- Nikki Reisch, Director of the Climate and Energy, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
- Landry Ninteretse, Africa Regional Director, 350.org
- Joie Chowdhury, Program Coordinator for Environment and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights at ESCR-Net
Press Contact:
Cate Bonacini, press(at)ciel.org, +1-202-742-5847 (desk), +1-510-520-9109 (WhatsApp/Signal)
Note to editors
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