In the blink of an eye, COP27 is looming (Nov 2022). Hosted in Egypt, the conference will look to build on COP26 and address many of the additional problems the world has been faced with since – particularly the intersection of the war in Ukraine with covid in a time of climate crisis.
Egypt’s Minister for International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, has now called on governments to make financial assistance for developing countries the top agenda item. Without it, the promises of COP26 cannot be delivered and future promises will look empty and unachievable.
There is a strong argument that the development of the world’s wealthy countries – however you may define it (perhaps the OECD membership?) – grew wealthy both at the economic expense of the world’s poorer countries and very much at the expense of the environment. Now is the time to pay back is it not? These countries can afford it, face an ethical argument that they should and an even larger moral argument that they must.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.