Intrigues that make the COP27 negotiations

Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga, director with UNFCCC Secretariat. [Carole Kimutai, Standard]

COP outcomes

The first week of COP is a technical week where technical negotiations happen. Week two is more political where most of the technical issues are resolved and handed over to politicians to make the final decisions.

In the last two days before the conference ends, negotiators have to ensure decisions are crisp and that they contain incremental changes required to address climate change.

The outcome is a cover/COP text. This is a detailed document that lists the items countries that are party to the UNFCCC have negotiated and agreed on and their priorities for action. The second cover text will reveal decisions negotiated under the Paris Agreement.

According to climate experts, one of the issues expected in the COP27 text is a concrete plan/work programme for a new loss and damage funding facility that has been a major discussion at this year's COP.

"The biggest expectation is that loss and damage finance and reparation is considered. Africa is suffering from climate change caused by rich countries," says Million Belay the General Coordinator of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa.

Countries are organized in blocs. One country can belong to several negotiation blocs. [Carole Kimutai, Standard]

Negotiation blocs

Climate negotiations are highly political. They involve a lot of emotions as it touches on finance, humanity, fairness and trust. Promises and pledges are made and people expect them to be fulfilled.

It gets complicated because power play comes into force. Negotiators engage in heated debate behind closed doors as they present priorities for their countries.

Negotiations require strategic alliances. Countries are organized in blocs. One country can belong to several negotiation blocs.

There is the Umbrella Group that comprises the developed countries that also happen to be the highest carbon emitters. These countries have been very vocal that developing countries must be included in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions discussions.

Other negotiation blocs include: The European Union, Arab States, BASIC group (Brazil, South Africa, India and China), Like-minded developing countries (LMCD) group, Cartagena Dialogue group (Umbrella group, Least Developed Countries, Small Islands Developing States, G77 and China, and the Africa Group which speaks on behalf of African countries.

"Finance is usually the deal breaker, it creates a lot of stalemate. For a goal to be implemented, finance is needed. You find one party - mostly a developed country - provides a statement that does not include finance. This is where a lot of pull of push happens," explains Achoki.

Tests for negotiators

As COP27 comes to a close, all eyes and ears will be on the outcomes. The world awaits the decisions and action points that will urgently address the climate crisis.

Steve Trent, CEO and Co-Founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation says the first test for negotiators is whether they can deliver rapid decarbonisation.

"This must include commitments to no new fossil fuels, a near-term end to fossil fuel subsidies, and transformational investment in renewable energy. As well as a stable climate, this will also offer a peace dividend. Through disarming the financial weapon of fossil fuels, as used by Vladimir Putin to fund the invasion of Ukraine, we will all ultimately be safer and more secure," he says.

The second test for negotiators is whether they will agree to set up a solid mechanism to provide loss and damage funding for those experiencing unimaginable climate impacts.

"Those hit first and worst by the climate crisis must be at the heart of climate talks from COP28 onwards. If negotiators pass these tests, we can call COP27 a success. If they do not, it will be yet another failure to take the urgent action needed for the people - and the planet - our leaders are supposed to represent," adds Trent.