CAFOD: COP27 has made slow progress

COP27 in Sharm el Sheikh concluded on Sunday morning, after days of intense negotiations. Countries at the latest UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, finally agreed to establish a funding mechanism to compensate vulnerable nations for 'loss and damage' from climate-induced disasters.

Neil Thorns CAFOD's director of advocacy and communications, who attended COP27 said: "The establishment of a loss and damage fund is a major step forward in supporting communities whose lives, livelihoods and cultures have been destroyed by the climate crisis. The next step is to ensure that the fund works under clear principles of justice and is capitalised without delay."

"There was slow progress on work delivering sustainable food systems. The Sharm El Sheikh work programme does not take the holistic approach needed if we are to reform our broken food system, which currently harms the planet and leaves people hungry."

Neil Thorns also stated that:

- the operationalisation of the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage is a welcome step, but along with funding for research, we need to ensure those impacted by the climate crisis can access the funds they need to cope.

- The Global Shield is a welcome step, however the UK has sadly remained silent on whether it will provide bespoke funding for the scheme.

- The new Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work on Agriculture is a small step but important step in tackling the food crisis, as it sends a clear signal to the international community that action is needed.

The lack of progress on phasing out of fossil fuel in the cover text was extremely disappointing and does not match the urgency as clearly outlined by the science.