Good COP, Bad COP: COP27 and COP15 Explainer

Emma Littlewood, Co-founder and Strategy Director for Compare Your Footprint, offers an explainer and review of the 2022 Conferences of Parties (COP) on Climate Change and Biodiversity.

COP27: The good, the bad and the ratchet

The good

COP27 will go down in history as the conference that agreed the Loss and Damage fund — a vital move for climate-vulnerable developing countries and a long-overdue victory for climate justice. Pakistan’s minister Sherry Rehman led 134 countries in negotiating this outcome. The agreement also marked a significant moment for women’s leadership on climate, propelled by Barbados PM Mia Mottley’s Bridgetown Initiative to reform the World Bank and IMF.

The bad

Sponsored by Coca-Cola and Nestlé, with fossil fuel lobbyists out in force. The vital phase-out of fossil fuels was axed from the final text. A loose definition of ‘low-emission’ energy could justify increased natural gas use. Food production was finally on the agenda, but political resistance prevented a systems approach — despite food processes emitting one-third of all greenhouse gases.

The ratchet

At COP26 countries agreed to focus on a 1.5°C limit by strengthening commitments yearly (the ratchet). At COP27, some tried to renege on 1.5°C and abolish the ratchet. They failed, but a resolution to ensure emissions peak by 2025 was scrapped.

COP15: A landmark biodiversity rescue package

Despite low expectations, COP15 achieved its main goal: a 10-year Global Biodiversity Framework to ‘halt and reverse’ biodiversity loss. Almost 200 countries (notably excluding the US) signed the agreement, including $30bn of funding for a 30×30 target — protecting 30% of global terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas by 2030. COP15 will go down in history as the pivotal moment world leaders committed to the preservation of biodiversity.