Key Outcomes of the COP27 Un Climate Change Conference

The UN Climate Conference COP 27 closed on 20 November 2022 with some vital agreements, focused mainly on funding for vulnerable countries hit by climate disasters. What were the other topics discussed during the summit?

Table of Contents

• Main topics at the UN Climate Conference COP 27
• 1.5 Celsius
• Adaptation
• Gas and fossil fuels

Main topics at the UN Climate Conference COP 27

Without a doubt, the main takeaway from the COP27 conference was the agreement to create a “loss and damage” fund. It will provide financial assistance to developing countries devastated by climate change-driven extreme weather such as floods, hurricanes, and droughts. The talks about such “climate reparations” lasted for nearly three decades, so it’s not a surprise that it’s a huge step. Now we’re waiting for the plan to be implemented.

1.5 Celsius

Another vital development during COP27 Climate Summit was the reaffirmation of the Paris Agreement temperature goal. The COP wants to keep the growth in the global average temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. At the same time, it vows to pursue measures that will help to restrain the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The influence of climate change will be lower at an expansion of 1.5 degrees Celsius in comparison to 2 degrees Celsius.

Adaptation

During the COP27 climate change conference, the topic of adaptation became another fundamental point of the talks. Various developing countries need special measures to make them much more resilient to the damaging impacts of the climate crisis. Those efforts include maintaining wetlands, regrowing forests, restoring mangroves, constructing flood defenses, and others. During COP26 in Glasgow, rich countries promised $100bn a year for adaptation action, however, they were given only about $20bn. That means that climate finance for adaptation in developing areas is about 5 to 10 times lower than what they currently need. At the COP27 Climate Summit, adaptation pledges from Glasgow were reaffirmed.

Gas and fossil fuels

The final text of the UN Climate Conference COP 27 included a provision about boosting “low-emissions energy”. The use of such a vague phrase means that text COP 27 can allude to a wide variety of solutions. It may describe not only solar and wind farms but nuclear reactors, gas (which still is a fossil fuel), and even coal-fired power plants with carbon capture abilities as well.

Also check out 9 steps you can take to reduce air pollution.