COP27
Photo credit: David Tong, Oil Change International

Was COP27 the least inclusive climate conference?

It is almost ironic that a climate conference with loss and damage as a main theme would have its delegates experience being lost.
It is almost ironic that a climate conference with loss and damage as a main theme would have its delegates experience being lost.

It is safe to say that by this point, the annual UN climate negotiations (or COPs) are not just about the negotiations itself. It has become a yearly convention of passionate climate advocates from all walks of life, a celebration of the power of the people to realize ambition into action.

Nearly half of all delegates of last year’s climate negotiations in Glasgow, United Kingdom are representatives of non-government sectors, including observers and the media. From scientists and entrepreneurs to indigenous peoples and youth advocates, thousands of participants traveled from around the world to make a collective impact on global climate action. 

Being a COP delegate comes with the expectation of having to adjust to the culture and conditions of the host city or country. That in itself provides a major challenge for the host to make all participants feel welcomed, to make the global climate conference inclusive and safe for everyone.

inclusive
Photo credit: David Tong, Oil Change International

Was the COP inclusive?

More than 35 thousand delegates registered for COP27 held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, with its main theme being enabling the full implementation of the Paris Agreement and the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In contrast to recent host cities like Madrid or Glasgow, Sharm El Sheikh is a resort city with a different set of infrastructures. Coming into the summit, we as delegates were already expecting a few logistical challenges to be encountered.

Yet what we actually experienced was still surprising, even after the first few days. Going to the COP27 venue was almost a challenge in itself. While a map of the bus routes was given to attendees, it did not make the commute any less confusing.

Many passengers experienced drivers not stopping for them, even at designated bus stops. A bus on the same route would occasionally take a much longer path that inconvenienced some delegates.

The main bus terminal for dropping off and picking up attendees at the COP27 venue was also disorganized. It was reminiscent of a scene commonly found in congested roads of many cities, where droves of passengers would follow the bus until they stop and allow them to get onboard.

As if the commuting system implemented was not confusing enough, the set-up of rooms and pavilions within the COP27 venue itself added more stress to the delegates.

Throughout the conference, many got confused by the arrows and signs in locating their meetings, side events, and huddles. Finding specific rooms and facilities was reportedly an issue for some individuals and groups, as even the guards and staff inside the venue might give conflicting instructions about going to them.

It is almost ironic that a climate conference with loss and damage as a main theme would have its delegates experience being lost.

The high price of the foods and drinks inside the venue got so much initial backlash that it actually caused the stores to reduce their prices by 50 percent. Water and soft drinks were also offered for free, the latter mostly products of Coca-Cola, whose role as primary sponsor of COP27 has drawn criticisms for greenwashing. Despite this, 

It was also difficult for many participants to find accommodations for either one or both weeks of the conference due to the high prices in the city. There were also reports that some groups were even kicked out of their lodging for various reasons, placing them at risk of homelessness and insecurity. Fortunately, they received assistance from fellow delegates, showing unity and compassion among the COP27 community.

fossil fuel
Photo by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis

A worrying trend

These logistical challenges are yet another indicator in a growing list that points to the trend of inclusivity issues in recent COPs. Last year, COVID-related restrictions in global travel and difficulties in visa processing caused uncertainty in the process leading to COP26. This led to calls for postponement from many civil society groups, with many potential attendees from the Global South ending up missing the Glasgow climate negotiations, despite its claim of being the most inclusive COP in history. 

At COP25 in Madrid, several civil society groups were kicked out of the venue and had their badges removed after staging a protest. While the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) claimed the groups violated the Code of Conduct for the way the protest happened, it was seen as a bold move to silence those fighting for climate justice in contrast to fossil fuel corporations being allowed within the negotiations despite obviously lobbying to slow down or block meaningful mitigation.

And in this year’s negotiations, there is an even stronger presence of the fossil fuel industry who are influencing the discussions such that reduced dependence on coal, oil and gas, which is necessary to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

The main point of the climate negotiations under the UNFCCC is to stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to prevent catastrophic human-made climate change. A necessary and vital part of this is for big polluters to reduce their emissions, based on scientific evidence, and for direct representation of the most vulnerable peoples on the negotiating table for securing the necessary resources to adapt to climate change.

If those working for genuine action are not even allowed to fully participate in the policymaking process while the ones responsible for the climate crisis can just freely sponsor the conference and keep on blocking necessary actions for our collective survival, then what is the point of the climate negotiations?

Another COP just finished. And in terms of inclusivity or lack thereof, the story remains the same. Will it change next year?

John Leo Algo
John Leo is the Deputy Executive Director for Programs and Campaigns of Living Laudato Si’ Philippines, and a member of the interim Secretariat of Aksyon Klima Pilipinas. He is one of the reviewers of the IPCC Working Group II Sixth Assessment Report, and a COP26 observer-delegate.
slot thailand slot88 joker123 zeus slot slot mania habanero idn slot jdb slot slot gacor maxwin slot thailand slot thailand slot thailand slot thailand sv388 slot kamboja idn slot slot ovo habanero slot petir slot dana slot maxwin slot ovo starlight princess live casino slot zeus pg soft slot olympus ibcbet maxwin slot thailand slot pgsoft slot slot mahjong zeus slot digmaan slot mania slot pulsa jdb slot slot777 slot shopee slot spade gaming slot thailand slot thailand fafaslot nolimit city slot princess fafaslot fafa slot slot princess slot gacor slot thailand slot mahjong slot gopay slot88 slot toto slot server thailand slot thailand slot77 slot gacor slot thailand slot server thailand slot thailand akun gacor slot maxwin slot gacor slot thailand slot kakek zeus Pg Soft Maxbet Ibcbet Starlight Princess Slot Ovo Joker123 Mahjong Ways 2 Sv388 Sbobet Slot Dana Slot Thailand Slot Thailand Digmaan Sv388 Joker123 Mahjong Ways 2 Slot Dana Slot Gacor Slot Anti Rungkat baccarat roulette sicbo casino online sv388 tembak ikan online sbobet slot macau slot thailand slot thailand slot88 situs slot wwg slot wm casino tembak ikan slot thailand slot wala meron slot nolimit city slot pg slot gacor slot88 slot50000 slot mahjong slot thailand 66k bet slot daftar judi slot online indonesia slot mahjong ways slot thailand mahjong ways slot gacor slot mawin slot gacor slot gacor slot gacor slot thailand slot thailand slot gacor slot ovo slot gacor slot gopay slot gacor slot gacor slot thailand slot gacor judi slot slot thailand slot thailand slot thailand slot mahjong ways 2 slot pragmatic slot demo pragmatic slot demo pg soft demo slot pragmatic slot gacor 4d slot pg soft pgslot pgsoft pgsoft sv388 slot88 pgsoft slot thailand slot88 slot thailand slot gacor slot ovo slot dana fafaslot slot ovo slot jepang judi slot gacor slot rusia Situs Daftar Judi Slot Mahjong Ways 1 dan 2 PG Soft Online PG Soft : Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Slot Kakek Zeus RTP Slot > Daftar Situs Judi Slot Gacor Mahjong Ways 2 PG Soft : Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Terbaik Situs Slot Online Gacor Dan Agen Slot Pragmatic Play Terpercaya Slot Gacor: Situs Slot Online Pragmatic Play & Bocoran Pola Slot Situs Slot Online Terbaik Terpercaya dan Terbesar di Indonesia Slot Kakek Zeus Daftar Link Slot Olympus Terbaru Slot Dana Daftar Judi Slot Online Indonesia Paling Gacor di Indonesia Sabung Ayam Online Sv388 Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online SLOT88 SLOT PG SOFT GACOR Bandar Slot Daftar Situs Judi Online Terbaik & Terpercaya Gacor power gaming sv388 lucky neko slot gacor slot gacor slot88 slot kakek slot pg slot kakek zeus slot dana slot maxwin slot server luar negeri slot thailand Link Daftar Situs Judi Slot Deposit Dana 20RB Tanpa Potongan Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Link Daftar Situs Judi Slot Deposit Dana 20RB Tanpa Potongan Slot Pragmatic - Link Alternatif Judi Slot Online Gacor Kakek Zeus Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Daftar Slot Dana Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play lucky Neko Daftar & Login Slot PG Judi Slot 88 Online Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Slot Mahjong Ways 2 Mudah Jackpot Paus di PG Soft Hari ini 2023 Lucky Neko Situs Slot Gacor Pgsoft Hari Ini Slot Pragmatic - Link Alternatif Judi Slot Online Gacor Kakek Zeus SITUS SABUNG AYAM SV388 ONLINE DAFTAR LINK LOGIN APK AGEN SV388 Daftar Judi Slot Online Indonesia Paling Gacor di Indonesia SBOBET Login Agen Judi Bola Sbobet Mahjong Ways | Slot PG | Slot Mahjong Ways 2 | Slot PGsoft | Daftar Slot Mahjong Situs Joker123 | Joker123 | Joker Gaming | Daftar Slot Joker Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play Agen Daftar Situs Judi Slot Online Terpercaya Slot Kakek Zeus : Daftar RTP Judi Slot Online Gacor Gampang Menang Joker123 Game Slot Gacor Joker Gaming Casino Online Indonesia Power Gaming : Situs Slot Gacor Online RTP Pragmatic Play