For years, the Global North has set the climate agenda. As COP27 host, Egypt can achieve the most inclusive COP ever
Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders and former President of Ireland
February 1, 2022
COP27 is an opportunity to change the narrative and transform the process, giving true weight to the voices of diverse communities and young people — on the African continent no less.
—Mary Robinson
Earlier this month, Egypt announced the appointment of Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to lead the international climate talks in Sharm-el-Sheikh in November 2022. Alongside Minister Shoukry's appointment as COP27 president, Egypt's woman environment minister, Dr Yasmine Fouad (a leading climate scientist who co-chaired finance talks at COP26), was named COP27 Ministerial Coordinator and Envoy.
We are hopeful that they will lead an inclusive process - one that can represent the Global South, which is disproportionately vulnerable to rising temperatures, drought, floods and population displacement.
Some progress was made at the COP26 negotiations in November 2021, but the summit in Glasgow was far from inclusive. In fact, it was criticized as "the most exclusionary" climate conference to date. Pandemic-related complications are partially to blame; still, the event will be remembered for its under-representation of the Global South and lack of access for youth activists and people with disabilities. And while the gender balance of COP delegations has gradually improved since 1995, the average balance of delegations is 75% male to 25% female across all COPs to date. Policies that are designed without women's participation exacerbate existing inequalities, hinder innovation and are a recipe for ineffective implementation.
Time is running out for people and our planet. We must get this right.