PR | Zakia Khattabi at pre-COP27: our country now considered a credible partner on climate issues!
The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt will host the 27th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change from 6-18 November in Sharm el-Sheikh. Climate ministers from 60 countries are gathering this week in Kinshasa to launch discussions to effectively address the major global challenge of climate change. The Belgian government is invited for the first time and will be represented by Minister Zakia Khattabi.
The pre-COP is the last political consultation prior to the COP. This meeting has three main objectives: to seek possible political "landing zones" for the main issues of the next COP, to serve as a forum for ministers to gain insight into the technical content and diplomatic dynamics of these issues and to provide a platform for the host country and the region chairing the COP to give greater visibility to their own priorities and concerns.
It is the first time outside the EU Presidency that Belgium has been invited to participate in the preparatory work of a COP. Minister Khattabi will chair a session dedicated to financing, which will deal, among other things, with the pursuit of the 100 billion dollar objective, a new collective objective post 2025 as well as the need to align financial flows with the commitments of the Paris Agreement.
"It is again in a particularly volatile international environment that this COP and the Pre-COP are taking place. While the health crisis has not yet ended, the war in Ukraine and its severe impact on energy prices and food security in certain parts of the world are weakening our societies. Meanwhile, the effects of climate change are becoming more and more evident. This summer, we witnessed heat and drought in Europe, while other regions were devastated by torrential rains and floods. These questions serve as a reminder of the need for a coordinated, international and equitable response to global challenges", says Federal Climate Minister Zakia Khattabi.
The latest reports published by the IPCC shows once again that with the increase in temperature, we will see an exponential increase in certain events such as extreme heat waves and will see the limits of adaptation surpassed. This means more natural disasters, higher sea levels, loss of vulnerable ecosystems, etc.
A temperature rise of just 1.5°C can still be maintained if significant and sustained emission reductions are achieved quickly. As time goes on, COPs become more crucial. Doing nothing about climate change is criminal.
While mitigation policies, climate finance and loss and damage will certainly be addressed, the Egyptian presidency wishes to put the focus of this COP on a methodology and indicators to better monitor and strengthen the implementation of the climate change adaptation policy. In addition to the official program, Minister Khattabi will meet with Congolese environmental civil society: "An essential voice with valuable expertise that I could not afford to miss during this trip. I hope, this pre-COP will kick off a COP27 that will, through its commitments, be able to rise to the challenges we face. It could not be otherwise," concluded the Green Minister.
