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policies and showcase technologies to encourage potentially build collaborations and future alliances.
and facilitate the much-needed transition and Four initiatives were launched during the solutions
paradigm shift towards a low-carbon economy. day. The most important one was Global Waste
Initiative 50 by 2050. The initiative seeks to treat and
Adaptation & Agriculture Day: Adaptation and recycle at least 50% of the solid waste produced in
Resilience are of crucial importance to all parties and Africa by 2050. To achieve this target, it will leverage
in, particularly, developing countries. IPCC reports, voluntary engagements from over 180 countries at
including the latest working group II report, the international level for Africa. The initiative is first of
highlighted the devastating impacts endured by its kind global coalition that proposes a collaborative
many countries across the world and pointed to the platform for all stakeholders involved in waste
The 2022 United Nations Climate Change but one international community working for the fact that we are not on track to deal with current management to holistically address all solid waste
Conference or Conference of the Parties of the common good of our shared planet and humanity. climate impacts, nor are we prepared for the extreme types and contribute to an ambitious target at the
UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP27, weather events that are increasing in number and scale of the African continent.
was the 27th United Nations Climate Change Thematic Days intensity. Thus, this day highlighted the importance of
conference, held from 6 November until 18 In COP 27, full days were themed on various topics sustainable agricultural practices for climate actions. Conference
November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. It took that captivated the audience. The areas or themes Sharm El-Sheikh was the location for the COP21
place under the presidency of Egyptian Minister of including but were not limited to: Water Day: Water is the source of life and livelihood. conference. Having the venue located in the heart of
Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, with more than 90 Climate impacts on water and the linkages to wider, the green city of Sharm El-Sheikh offers sustainability
heads of state and an estimated 35,000 Finance Day: Finance is the cornerstone for cross-cutting impacts on development and a front seat throughout the logistical preparation
representatives, or delegates, of 190 countries implementing climate actions and scaling up livelihoods are well documented and substantiated process of COP27. A sustainable, carbon-neutral
attending. It was the first climate summit held in ambition; hence, it has been at the heart of the by credible scientific reports and analyses, including conference to demonstrate COP27's ambitious
Africa since 2016. The conference has been held UNFCCC process and the Paris Agreement most recently by the IPCC and numerous other aspiration toward climate action.
annually since the first UN climate agreement in negotiations. Finance day addressed several institutions. Discussions at the Water Day will cover
1992. Governments use it to agree on policies aspects of the climate finance ecosystem, including all issues related to sustainable water resource Focus on Solutions Concludes COP27's
limiting global temperature rises and adapting to but not limited to innovative and blended finance management. The water day discussed water United Nations Secretary-General and COP27
climate change impacts. The conference led to the and financial instruments, tools, and policies that scarcity, drought, cross-boundary cooperation, and President urged Parties to restore trust and deliver
first loss and damage fund being created. has the potential to enhance access, scale up the improvement of early warning systems. through much-needed agreements COP27
finance and contribute to the transition envisaged Presidency convenes ministerial meetings on
Globally, the increasing frequency and intensity of and needed, including those related to debt for Energy Day: The Energy Day dealt with all aspects of methane and a first-ever ministerial meeting on
extreme weather events are impacting the lives and environment swaps. energy and climate change, including renewable urbanization and climate change at a COP27
livelihoods of millions of people. Rising global energy and energy transformation, with a specific Presidency launched four initiatives during Solutions
average temperature and rapid global warming are Science Day: Science day comprised panel focus on just transition in the energy sector and Day: SURGE focused on the development of
causing alarming consequences for humans and all discussions and events to bring forward the Green hydrogen as a potential energy source for the Sustainable Cities; LOTUS was launched to push
other life forms on earth. The climate crisis will outcomes of the reports and their recommendations future. It included energy efficiency and ways to towards low-emission transportation systems;
aggravate social, economic, and environmental and further enhance engagement of the climate manage the envisaged global just transition in Friends of Greening National Investment Plans aims
threats. Thus, urgent actions are needed to address community, practitioners, and different stakeholders energy. Renewable energy, smart grids, energy to support developing nations in their climate
the climate crisis and strengthen the implementation to discuss and engage on the linkages and findings efficiency, and energy storage are all elements of a adaptation and mitigation plans; and finally, 50 by
of a response to create a resilient planet. related to climate change, it provided an opportunity much-needed comprehensive vision of how energy 2050 seeks to treat and recycle 50% of the solid
to engage with the science community and waste produced in Africa by 2050.
COP27 Legacy academia and bring their views into the conversation ecosystems could evolve shortly. The components of
a transformative energy future, challenges, and
Africa is determined to show its leadership in climate to ensure that all work and action is based on solid, opportunities for just energy transition were also part Earlier in the day, the agenda featured several
action by showcasing its contributions to the global credible science, and further discuss roles of of the discussions on this thematic day. sessions that drew attention to urbanization and
movement to tackle climate change, its role in academia in support for global action to tackle climate change and ensuring that cities worldwide
facilitating and mobilizing action at scale, and its climate change. Solutions Day: Solutions Day brought together are part of climate solutions to accelerate multi-level
vision for a just and sustainable future for its people government representatives, businesses, and action and bolder leadership to meet our goal of a
and the wider global population. COP27 was a Decarbonization Day: Since adopting the Paris innovators to share their experiences and ideas to 1.5 Celsius degree target by 2030. To this end, the
turning point where the world came together and Agreement and Glasgow in 2021, several COP27 Presidency, with the support of UN-Habitat,
demonstrated the requisite political will to take on energy-intensive sectors and companies have come spread awareness, share experiences and best convened the first-ever Ministerial Meeting on
the climate challenge through concerted, forward with plans, policies, and actions to reduce practices, and perhaps build future alliances and Urbanization and Climate Change at a UN Climate
collaborative, and impactful action, where their carbon footprints and gradually move towards collaborations. Bearing that start-ups can bring Change Conference of Parties (COP). The Ministerial
agreements and pledges were translated to projects decarbonization. creativity and innovation to combating climate Meeting reinforced the commitment of the Paris
and programs, where the world showed that we are change, Solutions Day will bring together established Agreement and committed to accelerated climate
serious in working together and in rising to the Technologies are emerging as potential solutions to businesses, small and medium-scale innovators, and change mitigation, climate change adaptation action,
occasion, where climate change seized to be a reduce carbon in the atmosphere. The day provided government and financial institution representatives and local climate finance, and focused on housing,
zero-sum equation. There is no more " them and us" an opportunity to discuss such approaches and to share experiences, discuss challenges, and urban development, and multi-level action about
climate change.
October/November 2022