COP27 Witnesses Unprecedented Initiatives, Steps, Says Mohieldin

Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, confirmed that COP27 witnessed many unprecedented initiatives and steps, in addition to achieving progress in some files, despite the existence of a lack of trust which requires more support from political leaders and a change in behavior.

Mohieldin’s remarks came during his speech at the closing high-level session of the Climate Champions entitled "Progress and Priorities", in the presence of a high-level representation of the Presidency of the Climate Summit, the UN and international partners.

During his speech, Mohieldin explained that there are constraints on climate finance budgets as climate finance is insufficient, unfair and inefficient, which necessitates strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors.

The climate champion also highlighted a number of unprecedented steps that took place at COP27, where the first youth envoy in the history of climate summits, Dr. Omnia El-Omrani, was appointed. The Climate Summit also witnessed the launch of the Youth and Children Pavilion and their integration into the heart of climate action.

Mohieldin noted the participation of 7 children from different countries of the world to share their ideas and solutions through books, podcast applications and other innovative solutions.

In the same context, Mohieldin explained that, for the first time ever, a call for action to adapt to climate change has been launched, which is the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda, a comprehensive plan to support adaptation measures in various sectors such as food, agriculture, water, nature and infrastructure, with the participation of government agencies and non-state actors.

According to Mohieldin, the Climate Summit also witnessed a pioneering step by presenting several investable projects through public-private partnerships, bearing in mind that the participation of the private sector in financing adaptation does not exceed 2% of global financing. 

In the same context, Mohieldin recommended the need to provide better incentives and to present better designed projects.

The Climate champion explained that Africa was at the heart of the climate summit agenda to advance the climate action agenda. 

For example, the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative was launched to provide sustainable energy for all and support early warning systems in cooperation with many partners and the private sector.

Mohieldin also referred to the national initiative for smart green projects at the level of the Egyptian governorates, as this initiative witnessed the competition of about 6,281 projects, adding that this initiative will become a major part of the upcoming climate summits and will be transferred to the global level. 

Mohieldin noted the participation of the 18 winning projects at the Climate Summit in the Green and Blue Zones.

Mohieldin explained that these projects focus on providing solutions such as recycling, biodiversity, clean energy, and others.

In another context, Mohieldin noted the report of the independent high-level experts on financing climate action through a holistic approach linking financing action for climate and action for development.

Mohieldin concluded his speech by emphasizing that financing is still unfair, insufficient and inefficient, which requires strengthening the participation of multilateral development banks and expanding the scope of concessional financing to include low- and middle-income countries with full recognition of the file of losses and damages.

He also stressed that the world cannot bear more complications in the files of science and financing, expressing his hope for the role of youth and political leaders in accelerating climate action and achieving sustainable development goals.