Sharm El Sheikh – Egyptian president Abdel Fattah Al Sisi said at the United Nations Climate Summit (UNFCCC COP27) this Monday (7) in Sharm El Sheikh this is the time to act for the implementation of the commitments signed in previous editions of the COP, such as the Paris Agreement. The Egyptian leader said the world is waiting for swift implementation in favor of the climate, with concrete actions to reduce emissions and financing guarantees for developing countries, which today are most affected by climate change’s consequences.
Al Sisi spoke at the World Leaders Summit (or Climate Implementation Summit), which opened today and runs until tomorrow (8), bringing together about 100 government officials and ministers, who were received by him and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres. The leaders’ meeting is part of COP27, which has “Together for Implementation” as its motto and runs until November 18.
“There is no more time for hesitation because all governments already know what they have to do. Governments must work to the best of their might to offer solutions, and the civil society must also contribute and play a fundamental role,” was Al Sisi’s message to the countries.
Al Sisi said determination is needed for a future with no temperature increase of over 1.5 degrees. “This is the future that meets the hopes and aspirations of all people. We must be frank and honest and be aware of our capabilities and what we can do. The international community is capable of achieving progress and the goals set in Paris,” he said.
For the president, it is essential all parties come together and take action, with a particular focus on developing countries. Al Sisi emphasized the African countries, which, according to him, should be prioritized. “All countries must assume their responsibilities as far as they can. We need to share the responsibility. This multilateral trust will be the best guarantee of our success, progress, and achieving our goals,” he declared.
Al Sisi sent a clear message to the world. “Clear actions and measures for implementation. More actions will encourage stakeholders to approve funding[…] Climate change will never stop without our intervention,” he said. The Egyptian president also said he would launch new measures and initiatives in the coming days.
Green cities
The Egyptian president recalled Sharm El Sheikh is the first city to undergo a green transformation in the country and said he intends to implement the clean energy and sustainability plan in other cities in Egypt. “Here in Egypt, we set ambitious goals. We are committed to accelerating our transition to a green economy, using resources and clean energy through legislation, new policies, and new governance mechanisms to ensure a complete green transformation and contribute to creating a friendlier environment for investments in food, energy, and agriculture. Egypt is determined to increase investments in these vital areas,” said Al Sisi, who spoke about reducing carbon emissions in addition to the transition.
This war needs to end
Al Sisi also spoke on the war between Russia and Ukraine and appealed. “This war needs to end. My country is not one of the strongest economically. We suffered a lot from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now we are suffering another crisis because of this unnecessary war. I think the whole world is in crisis because of this, and this war and the suffering it is causing need to end. This is a sincere appeal,” he declared.
UAE president
UAE president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan began his speech by supporting President Al Sisi’s appeal. “We agree with you, president Sisi, on what you said. We need peace, we need dialogue, and we need the war to end,” he said.
Al Nahyan said this is a critical moment for the planet, in which the world faces complex challenges, including climate change. “Given we only have one planet, it is essential we unite our efforts to address this challenge by engaging in climate action, which we see as an opportunity for innovation, creating solutions, and economic diversification,” he said.
The UAE is known as a responsible energy supplier, said Al Nahyan, noting that for years, the country has been focusing on reducing carbon emissions from the oil and gas sector, diversifying the economy, and building renewable and clean energy capacity to promote sustainable economic and social development.
“Our country was the first in the region to announce a strategic initiative for carbon neutrality by 2050. We also launched a partnership agreement with the United States a few days ago for an investment of USD 100 billion for producing 100 Gigawatts of clean energy in several parts of the world,” he declared, informing this type of initiative creates new sectors, skills, and jobs.
Dubai, in the UAE, will host COP28 next year in the same venue where Expo 2020 Dubai took place. “The UAE continue with their efforts to build bridges of cooperation and communication with the international community, and already thinking about COP28, in Dubai, we will focus on supporting the implementation of commitments from previous COPs,” he said.
António Guterres
UN secretary-general António Guterres stressed the need for immediate action and called for universal coverage of early warning systems within five years and for all governments to tax windfall profits from fossil fuel companies.
“We will redirect the money to people struggling with rising food and energy prices and countries suffering loss and damage from the climate crisis. When addressing loss and damage, this COP must agree on a clear roadmap and timeframe reflecting the scale and urgency of the challenge, providing adequate institutional arrangements for funding. Obtaining concrete results on loss and damage is a litmus test of the government’s commitments to the success of COP27,″ stressed Guterres.
The secretary-general said it is time for nations to come together for implementation, and this is the time for international solidarity to respect human rights and ensure a safe space for environmental defenders and social players to contribute to the climate response. “Let’s not forget that the war against nature itself is a massive violation of human rights,” he said.
Guterres recalled we are close to becoming 8 billion inhabitants on Earth, and we must fight together for ourselves and the next generations to come. “We need all hands on deck for faster, more daring climate action,” he said.
Participation
Among the over 100 heads and world leaders at the summit were the crown prince of Kuwait, Meshal al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah; minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Adel al-Jubeir; crown prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa; prime minister of Palestine, Mohammad Shtayyeh; prime minister of Tunisia, Najla Bouden; prime minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati; president of Iraq, Abdul Latif Rashid; prime minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak; president of France, Emmanuel Macron; president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro; prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley; prime minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, among others. Representing Brazil was the ambassador of Brazil to Cairo, Antonio Patriota.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
