What is a COP?

This year’s climate conference will take place from 6^th to 18^th November in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

Some speculate that holding the conference in Africa might shift the focus to the climate-related issues being faced in the continent, which are indeed some of the most hard-felt impacts at present.

There are mixed opinions around the impact that the conferences achieve. Greta Thunberg has announced that she will not be attending this year, as she sees the event as a platform for greenwashing. Commitments are a crucial start, but real action will be needed to tackle the climate crisis.



The Egyptian Government has also attracted controversy by prohibiting Egyptian NGOs and activists from attending. This decision has been heavily criticised and exacerbated concerns over human and climate rights in the country.

This year, the global effects of climate change have been even more pronounced. We’ve witnessed a third of Pakistan flooded, Europe’s hottest summer in 500 years and Cuba left entirely without power from Hurricane Ian.

Furthermore, the UN Environment Programme recently published that there is currently “no credible pathway” to limiting global temperature increase to 1.5°C. Citizens now look to world leaders to take rapid and effective climate action.

COP27 will focus on three main areas:

• Decarbonisation
• Supporting countries in climate adaptation and mitigation
• Securing technical support and funding for developing countries for the above (developed countries have yet to provide the $100 billion a year promised by 2020)

There will also be themed days to bring attention to issues such as gender, water, agriculture and biodiversity.