COP27 has turned into a fancy formal political conference with no real conclusions

Every year, global decision-makers meet to discuss and debate solutions to the most urgent issue faced by humanity: climate change. The meeting or summit is known as the Conference of Parties, or COP.

Every year, natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and flash floods are getting stronger. Given how severely climate change is affecting us, it is important that we take rapid action and get successful outcomes from meetings like COP if we wish to combat the problem. But what happens when thousands of world leaders gather in an extravagant meeting to discuss climate change? NOTHING. Experts are calling it the most unsuccessful COP of all time. 

What is COP27? 

COP27 or Conference of the Parties is one of the major United Nations conventions that started on November 6 and was supposed to last till November 18. Now it got extended and might go on till Sunday (November 20 ). Several heads of states, ministers, and negotiators, along with climate activists have gathered at the Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. 

The COP27 though came with an agenda stronger than its predecessor, COP26, yet negotiators are still struggling to come to a conclusion. 
Some of the issues that are discussed include: 

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
• Building resilience, and adapting to the inevitable impacts of climate change, 
• Delivering on the commitments to finance climate action in developing countries.
• Renew solidarity between countries, to deliver on the landmark Paris Agreement. (Half the amount of greenhouse gases that is now present)

However, the ultimate purpose of COP27 in 2022 is still debatable. Wealthy countries concentrate on measures to assist underdeveloped countries in transitioning away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy. The developing countries however are demanding more financial aid from the developed countries, as it is they who face the brunt of climate change.

Today, at the opening ceremony of the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit, world leaders, envoys, delegates, & members of civil society came together in a unified front to further mobilize & prioritize the global climate agenda. #COP27 #TogetherForImplementation pic.twitter.com/LXJzbGFYl3

— COP27 (@COP27P) November 7, 2022

What is the progress now? COP27, has a very big itinerary, with several keynote speakers, talking and discussing the above-mentioned issues. 

1.5-degree celsius goal 

According to the Paris Global climate change goal,  the global temperature should not increase to 1.5°C. According to reports in 2021, it has already reached 1.2 degrees celsius. However, no conclusion has been reached about the issue. 

100 billion dollar agenda? 
In 2009, "rich countries" committed to giving at least $100 billion annually to assist less developed nations in reducing emissions and preparing for the effects of extreme weather by 2020. Something that has not yet been achieved. The "lack of trust" between the two spheres has plagued these talks, and the failure to meet it is a major cause of resentment for developing countries.

Around 45,000 attendees from around 200 countries are attending the COP27 meeting. Out of all of the attendees, there were protests also seen by various climate change activities, demanding for more strict plans and actions from the world leaders. 

What caused the extension?

Until Thursday evening there was still no proper draft cover text. The 20-page first draft was released late in the night yesterday. 

The draft, however, is lacking many crucial specifics, such as how to help poor countries adjust to the effects of the climate disaster and how to keep under the 1.5C global temperature rise limit, according to The Guardian.

Additionally, even if a settlement is not made, this COP could still end in failure, as it has in the past.