November 7, 2022

Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt:  The UN Secretary General, António Guterres opened the World Leader’s Summit at COP27 today by calling for a ‘historic Climate Solidarity Pact’, to reduce carbon emissions and speed up renewable energy transition. To be led by the highest polluting countries, the pact would call on all countries to make an extra effort to reduce emissions this decade in line with the 1.5-degree goal. 

In response, Yeb Saño, Greenpeace’s COP27 Head of Delegation, said:

“The climate crisis is indeed the fight of our lives. It is crucial that voices from the Global South be truly heard and drive the decisions needed for climate solutions and to build genuine solidarity. Justice, accountability and finance for the countries hardest hit by the climate crisis, past, present and future are key to success not only to the discussions amongst world leaders at COP27 but also in the actions that must follow their words. No more hogwash, no more greenwash.

“The Paris Agreement is built on the premise that in order to limit global temperature rise to less than 1.5C, we all need to step up and increase our climate action. Solutions and wisdom are already in abundance from Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities and youth. Polluting governments and corporations must stop dragging their feet, they know what needs to be done, now they need to do it. The most critical tipping point is when we lose our ability to care for each other, and for the future – that’s what suicide is.

The Pact could be a chance to address the injustices of the past and put climate out of the backburner. This said, the global movement, led by Indigenous Peoples and young people, will continue to rise with or without world leaders. We call on leaders to step up and commit to building trust and implementing the action needed, for the collective well being of people and planet.”