Well, that’s a wrap for firstlight’s crew on the ground at COP27, there may be one more planned day and three more actual days but the team are heading home after an action packed week. Here are my quick fire five reflections from a week in Sharm El-Sheikh:
Loss and damage
Loss and damage has been on the agenda for a while, but it’s no longer an issue – it’s the issue. All the talk on the ground is that by hook or by crook there will be positive language on the issue. It seems likely there will be a defined pathway to a finance facility, and perhaps, how a “fair share” will be decided. We’ll see what comes out in the final text. Some will see this as progress, others will say without real money going into the pockets that need it most, it’s no progress. My view is that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. A finance facility might not be sexy, but it’s been a gaping hole. That said, we cannot allow this to become an excuse to wait years for actual cash flow. The reality with loss and damage is straightforward, messaging, narratives and spin won’t cut it now. Money talks.
Leadership
Biden’s better than expected performance in the US midterms definitely lifted the mood on the floor. The feeling was it also lifted the ambition in his speech. I don’t think there was anything particularly ground-breaking in what he said, and we shouldn’t be getting over excited, but it’s baby steps in the right direction. There have been major worries about tensions between China and the US and how that will be reflected in the COP text. The sense here is that the G20 talks have eased that worry, and people are hopeful of progress not regression from Glasgow. The obligatory extra days over the weekend will hopefully sharpen minds and make sure that happens!
Community
One of my favourite things about coming to COP and similar events is that we are reminded of the broader community within which we work, from politicians and think tanks; to private sector and civil society. You name it, they’re probably represented at COP. Now, is everyone getting the equal billing they should be? Absolutely not. But my takeaway is that there is a big community of changemakers who do genuinely care and are (mostly) pulling in the same direction. Day to day it can be easy to forget that!
Narrative
Whilst the community is great, I’m less convinced we have the narratives quite right. Even at an “African COP” with lots of African voices, far too much of the rhetoric was global North-centric. I also think we have to be better about articulating opportunities and risk.
Is a just and ‘orderly’ transition actually going to be orderly? I wouldn’t think so. But is there massive opportunity in the process of keeping within 1.5oC global warming? Definitely. A move towards a realistic outlook when we talk about these things would be good in my view.
Hope
Despite what some might have you believe, COP is actually full of hope. Everyone I spoke to believes that we can make the change needed. And nowhere is that better personified than in the young leaders on show. It’s time to move past the “youth activist” moniker, these are experts and leaders in their own rights. Many (I hope) are country, NGO, private sector and community leaders, not just of the future, but of the now. So many are inspiring and full of hope, something we shouldn’t let go of.
