WWF: The risk of a lost week at COP 27, but the opportunity remains

• WWF assesses the first week of COP 27 and warns that on the critical issues of financing, emissions reductions, food systems and loss and damage, we are not seeing the necessary progress.
• Signs of opportunity give hope for a second week that achieves the summit's goals.
• WWF warns that a successful COP 27 is vital to build momentum ahead of the COP15 global biodiversity summit in December.

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt (November 11, 2022) - As the end of the first week of COP 27 approaches, WWF warns that so far we are not seeing a clear and decisive shift from abstract promises to the concrete actions that are needed. With deadlines fast approaching on a range of vital issues, negotiators risk losing the first week in Sharm El Sheikh if Parties fail to agree on concrete and urgent actions.
 
Putting the issue of loss and damage on the agenda was a first success for COP 27, but the possibility of agreeing on a financing plan remains uncertain. Following the speeches of world leaders and the first steps of the negotiations, WWF sees some positive signs of progress, but time is running out to turn these "glimmers of opportunity" into substantive results that will help change the framework for tackling the climate and biodiversity crisis.  
 
WWF warns world leaders that the climate crisis is now evolving faster than our response, and that people and places around the world are suffering the catastrophic consequences of inaction.
 
Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, global head of climate and energy at WWF, and president of COP20, said, "If leaders truly believe that now is the time to act on climate change, then we have a chance this week, and every effort must be made to make it happen.
"We are in danger of seeing a lost week for loss and damage unless additional steps are taken to secure a financing mechanism. With disasters leaving vulnerable countries and communities in urgent need of support, it is critical that the international community come together to help them adapt, build resilience and address the unfair costs of the climate crisis.
"There is still time for parties to seize the glimmers of hope we have seen this week, and reach agreements that move us closer to a clean, sustainable, and resilient world. We've heard leaders acknowledge the scale of the challenge, but now they must meet that challenge with the ambition and action needed to prevent the climate crisis from spiraling further out of control."
Mark Lutes, head of UNFCCC negotiations at WWF, said, "While many parties rightly recognize the scale of the funding gap, we have seen so far that many governments are not ready to meet their existing commitments, that new pledges are limited, and that there is little reason to be confident that funding will be sufficiently increased or reach those who need it most. Meeting these commitments will be critical to achieving the emissions reductions and resilience-building in the world we want. We cannot afford to leave this COP with climate finance in limbo. Every year lost puts more vulnerable people at risk."
WWF is also concerned about the slow progress in reaching a decision on the future of the Koronivia Joint Work Programme on Agriculture. Joao Campari, WWF's global food officer, warned, "Further delays could lead to an unambitious decision, or worse, a postponement of the decision to COP 28. This would be a major blow to the transformation of food systems that would limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We urgently need to align climate, food and nature goals."
Despite these concerns, WWF believes there have been some positive developments, with welcome funding for forests, promising ministerial meetings, and positive recommendations from the high-level panel on net zero, the Sharm El Sheikh Adaptation Action Agenda, and proposals from some delegations and groupings that could potentially move the agenda forward on a number of fronts. 

 

Considering the immediate legacy of COP 27, Fernanda Carvalho, WWF's Global Policy Officer for Climate and Energy, said, "The success of COP 27 is essential to build momentum ahead of the COP15 biodiversity summit in December in Montreal, where we have a chance to reset humanity's broken relationship with nature. The climate crisis is causing nature to disappear, and the destruction of natural ecosystems is in turn fueling the climate crisis. Leaders must recognize this interconnectedness by ensuring that nature plays a larger role in negotiations."
The climate crisis will not affect the same people and places. As a result, it is likely to lead to inequalities within and between nations, and to create injustices. According to WWF, any climate action must help improve rights and social equity.
 
Editor's Notes:
WWF's COP 27 expectations document can be read here.
WWF Africa's expectations document is available here.