Decoded: World leaders converge at COP27 as time runs out to save the world

Have we crossed the point of no return? Is it, indeed, too late to save the world? This seemed to be the question on everyone’s mind at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, hosted this year at Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. On a sombre and alarming note, Alok Sharma, the President of last year’s conference, began with a wake up call for world leaders, reminding everyone of the havoc that climate change has wrought in the past year.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also did not mince his words.

This rhetoric is not new. In October, the UN had said that current plans submitted by governments would lead to a temperature rise of about 2.5 degrees celsius, condemning the world to a catastrophic climate breakdown.

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At COP26 in Glasgow, countries agreed to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, a threshold set out in the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which would avoid the worst ravages of climate change. Even a fraction of a degree more can lead to many more lives lost. China, the United States, Europe and India have all failed to reduce their emissions enough to meet their Paris Agreement goals.

The inequality that led to and is propagated by climate change was at the forefront of COP27. Poorer nations, which have historically contributed the least to climate change, but bear the brunt of its most devastating consequences today, are seeking more reparations from rich countries, many of which have grown their economies and amassed wealth by burning fossil fuels.

The Indian contingent at COP27 was led by Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, who also campaigned for a new fund for addressing loss and damage. India has launched the LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment movement, which encourages people the world over to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it.

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Climate cooperation has also been harmed by the Ukraine-Russia war, which has thrown global markets in turmoil in addition to causing widespread damage and loss of life in Ukraine. It has led to a global energy crisis and driven up the price of food, fuel and fertilisers.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the gathering virtually, stressing that there can be no global climate policy without peace.

The message from Climate scientists and experts is clear - time is running out, and fast. The goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5C, in order to avoid large scale damage, may already be unreachable. At COP27, most agreed that if humanity is to save itself, drastic action is required, and required immediately.