Egypt Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry elected COP27 President, calls for multilateralism

He added, "It is inherent on us all in Sharm El Sheikh to demonstrate our recognition of the magnitude of the challenges we face and our steadfast resolve to overcome it."

Shoukry said Egypt has made sure that COP27 provides the optimum setting to align and converge multiple views facilitating transparent, inclusive, and fruitful discussions to ensure the most positive outcome achievable.

The minister stressed that albeit the challenging economic and geopolitical factors, external circumstances should not be allowed to negatively affect the negotiating process, adding that as a COP hosted in Africa, it must consider the needs of the developing countries and ensure climate justice through availing the appropriate finance and other means of implementation, as countries that are the least responsible for emissions are the most affected by climate change.

The conference of the parties adopted its agenda, and for the first time since the adoption of the UN climate convention, parties agreed to introduce loss and damage funding as an agenda item at the climate conference, after a yearlong work culminating in 48 hours of continuous informal consultations led by the Egyptian COP Presidency on the eve of the COP.

Shoukry lauded the sense of responsibility and commitment that parties showed, as well as the collective keenness on preserving the credibility and relevance of the climate process by making the right decision that responds to the suffering of millions of climate calamities' victims around the world.

More than 50,000 attendees are registered and expected to participate at COP27's Blue Zone and thousands of others at the Green Zone.

The Egyptian Presidency has designated several key thematic days that will include pledging opportunities, discussions, roundtables, and side events.

The thematic days are part of efforts to advance climate action that can address existing implementation bottlenecks and gaps and deepen engagement with youth, women, civil society and indigenous people.

The Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Implementation Summit will start tomorrow and runs for two days, bringing all participating heads of state and government.

Just transitions, food security, innovative finance for climate and development, investing in the future of energy, water security, and climate change and the sustainability of vulnerable communities are among key topics to be discussed on roundtables.