November 15, 2022

At COP27, Latin America calls for action over promises

topic:	Climate action
located:	Brazil, Egypt, Colombia
editor:	Ellen Nemitz

COP27 is being held in Egypt this year amid a global milestone: the United Nations has predicted that on 15 November, 2022 the world’s population reached 8 billion people. On one hand, this high quantity of inhabitants is a significant pressure on the planet's resources; on the other, the milestone is a cue to finally find a balance between human rights and nature, providing everyone with a healthy environment. This is one of the main goals of the summit, which has gathered many global leaders, including from Latin America.

These two weeks of meetings bring the challenge of convincing the major greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters to reduce their consumption of fossil fuels and actually implement previous commitments. As it is widely known by now, the Global North is responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, while the Global South feels the worst effects of an already present climate emergency - especially the most vulnerable. "You can't talk about #JusticiaClimática [Climate Justice] without talking about racial and gender justice," stated the Colombian vice-president Francia Márquez Mina. "Overcoming the environmental crisis implies working on #ReparaciónHistórica [Historic Reparation] as the central axis of change."  

Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, is also taking an important role at COP27, presenting a summary of proposals to tackle the climate crisis. Petro is primarily focussed on the goal of preserving the Amazon rainforest, for which he is seeking partnerships with other countries, such as Venezuela and Brazil. “These types of summits have become rhetorical, with repeated speeches and no real measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, produced by the economy, and that are leading humanity to extinction," reads an official note.

As largely expected by the international community, the recently-elected Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, embarked to Egypt to meet other members of an extra-official committee, marking the return of Brazil to a leading role regarding the environment and the climate. On Twitter, Lula reaffirmed Brazil’s commitment to fight against climate change, stating that his administration “will work for the future of our country and the planet, which is one and for all." Marina Silva, who may possibly be chosen as Minister of the Environment for a second time in Lula’s administration, has also taken a prominent role at the COP. 

Nations from the Caribbean islands, like Barbados, are taking part in the summit as well. They are mainly focussed on boosting a possible deal in which rich nations would help finance a Loss and Damage Response Fund that could sustain some of the needs of places with lower chances of surviving the effects of the climate emergency.

"I don't need to repeat that we have the power of choice. I don't need to repeat that this is the COP that needs action," claimed Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados in her speech at COP27, mentioning some of the recent events affecting the world, such as floods and heat waves. "But what we do need to do is to understand why we are not moving any further. We have the collective capacity to transform.”

Photo by Matt Palmer

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