Dutch climate minister says Cop27 result ‘very disappointing’

Demonstrators at an anti-climate change march in October. Photo: DutchNews.nl

Dutch Climate Minister Rob Jetten said it was “very disappointing” that climate talks in Sharm el-Sheikh failed to make progress after “two difficult weeks”.

“In a year of alarming reports on extreme weather and climate, we have failed to make significant progress in reducing CO2 emissions in all countries that do,” Jetten said in a statement. “This is very disappointing.”

The 27th UN Climate Summit, hosted by Egypt, focused on measures to implement the current agreement, including the 1.5°C limit on global warming and climate adaptation.

But there is a breakthrough in financial support for developing countries grappling with the impacts of climate change, which is “very important for vulnerable countries that are already coping,” Jetten said.

Leaders agreed to establish a loss and damage fund to help countries on the front lines of climate change. The step will help restore trust between the North and South of the world, Jetten said.

At the same time, “hopefully, this will allow us to make real breakthroughs next year and accelerate our efforts to tackle climate change.”

Frans Timmermans, European Commission Vice-President and representative of the Netherlands, told reporters that the decision to set up a reparations fund for the most vulnerable countries “will go hand in hand with higher emission reduction ambition.” I have to,” he said. ‘

The EU has presented a proposal that can be seen #COP27 agree to #lossanddamage Fund – Targeting the most vulnerable, reflecting the economic realities of 2022.

Here’s what I told the press this morning 👇 pic.twitter.com/PanBfwg8zh

—Frans Timmermans (@TimmermansEU) November 18, 2022

“No amount of money on this planet can address the problem of loss and damage, the problem of adaptation,” he said. “Mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage, adaptation all come together.”

He said the deal was “too small a step forward” and that participating countries should recognize it.

Read The Guardian’s blog on the Summit and its results