COP27: The UN Climate Change Conference 2022
The 27th UN Climate Change Conference will be taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh from 6 to 18 November. To mark COP27, akzente is focusing on the various facets of climate policy.
The Earth’s temperature continues to rise: following the dip during the coronavirus pandemic, CO2 emissions, which harm the environment, have returned to their previous levels – and even surpassed them in some areas. Temperatures are already 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels. If we do not drastically rethink our current lifestyles and industrial practices, they are set to increase by around 3 degrees Celsius.
In November, the global community will meet at the COP27 Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, to discuss how to continue implementing the resolutions of the 2015 Paris Agreement. These include keeping a promise: the signatories have pledged to provide developing countries with USD 100 billion in climate finance annually.
So far, however, there has been a large discrepancy between the targets and measures implemented. ‘We are heading in the wrong direction,’ says the United Nations. By their estimation, efforts must increase sevenfold by 2030 in order to limit climate change to a tolerable level.
1.2
degrees global warming has already risen to
The climate crisis is happening here and now, and our goals are clear: Climate neutrality by 2045, a coal phase-out by 2030.
Jennifer Morgan
State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action at the Federal Foreign Office (Source: Federal Foreign Office, 22.7.2022)
Rethinking Plastics
The title of this striking image is ‘Guardians of the Great Wall’. It won a Chinese photography competition in 2020, which was launched as part of a cross-border project Rethinking Plastics: Circular Economy Solutions to Reduce Marine Litter. What you cannot see from the photo is that the Great Wall of China runs all the way to the sea.
The title of this striking image is ‘Guardians of the Great Wall’. It won a Chinese photography competition in 2020, which was launched as part of a cross-border project Rethinking Plastics: Circular Economy Solutions to Reduce Marine Litter. What you cannot see from the photo is that the Great Wall of China runs all the way to the sea. © GIZ / Limin
In Indonesia, the project is supported by dedicated ‘EcoRangers’. To tackle marine waste, they encourage local communities, fishers and tourists to get involved in managing waste. One focus is on switching to reusable bags, straws, cutlery and food packaging on markets.
In Indonesia, the project is supported by dedicated ‘EcoRangers’. To tackle marine waste, they encourage local communities, fishers and tourists to get involved in managing waste. One focus is on switching to reusable bags, straws, cutlery and food packaging on markets. © GIZ / Scholz
In Thailand, the project is also supporting the development of alternative packaging to reduce single-use plastic – for example for food deliveries.
In Thailand, the project is also supporting the development of alternative packaging to reduce single-use plastic – for example for food deliveries. © GIZ / Korawut NEEPARN
On the beaches of the Thai island Koh Phi Phi, GIZ is working with local communities and the tourism sector to prevent plastic waste in the ocean and to conserve biodiversity.
On the beaches of the Thai island Koh Phi Phi, GIZ is working with local communities and the tourism sector to prevent plastic waste in the ocean and to conserve biodiversity. © GIZ / Kampe
An online platform developed to improve ship-generated waste management also aims to prevent the illegal dumping of waste in the ocean and promote recycling.
An online platform developed to improve ship-generated waste management also aims to prevent the illegal dumping of waste in the ocean and promote recycling. © GIZ / Kampe
The Caribe Circular – Preventing Plastic Waste in Central America and the Caribbean Sea project has similar objectives. In the Dominican Republic, the project organised a clean-up campaign as part of Global Recycling Day in May 2021.
The Caribe Circular – Preventing Plastic Waste in Central America and the Caribbean Sea project has similar objectives. In the Dominican Republic, the project organised a clean-up campaign as part of Global Recycling Day in May 2021. © GIZ / Tejada
The initiative raises people’s awareness of how much single-use plastic they use and encourages them to take responsibility for preventing and reducing it.
The initiative raises people’s awareness of how much single-use plastic they use and encourages them to take responsibility for preventing and reducing it. © GIZ / Tejada