A long time ago, even longer than the weeks before COP27, the famous pyramids of Egypt were built. ECO heard that the tips of the biggest pyramids were covered in gold and shone brightly – so should your cover decision delegates. By the way, no one covered the tip in oil or coal, which makes sense as the place for all fossil fuels, including gas, is in the ground. ECO has the main modules and bricks to build your pyramid.
Brick one: The climate crisis is a human rights crisis
Remember our newly minted right via the UN General Assembly resolution 76/300 and Human Rights Council resolution 48/13 recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, the promotion of which requires the full implementation of the multilateral environmental agreements under the principles of international environmental law.
Brick two: Deliver on Loss and Damage – and do so at this conference, no need to take as long as building the pyramids did
Delegates, it is time to establish a new Loss & Damage Finance Facility to address this gap as an operating entity under the UNFCCC Financial Mechanism through 1/CP27 and 1/CMA4 decisions. Don’t forget to establish the advisory board of the Santiago Network as a constituted body to enable it to address technical and capacity-building needs to address Loss & Damage on the ground.
Brick three: Deliver on Finance, especially Adaptation Finance
Rich countries have to deliver on the US$100bn, your decision needs to recognize that and plan for how to make up for their past shortfalls – otherwise, there will be a big glaring hole in your construction.
Looking forward your decision should also establish timebound tracking of the commitment to double adaptation finance and ensure a 50% share.
Bricks four and five: Mitigation and Deep Decarbonization
All countries urgently need to deliver on their current commitments, strengthen their NDCs and align with 1.5°C, otherwise, your pyramid will be like the tip of the iceberg. To help you deliver the ambition that the science and synthesis reports tell us you are far from; we need a robust, equitable mitigation work program that, through a sectoral approach matched with incentives, can guide you to where we need to be. The Mitigation Work Programme and its connection with the Annual Ministerials on Pre-2030 Ambition must be highlighted.
We also need to recognize that deep decarbonization requires a sharp reduction in the production and consumption of fossil fuels (and yes this includes coal, oil, and gas) and 100% renewable power generation and energy efficiency measures. Let’s cover the tip of your pyramid with solar panels and shine a beacon of hope to direct the world to a climate-just future.
Brick six: Adaptation
The base of the pyramid is communities’ efforts to adapt. Your decision must provide for a solid foundation of a clear workplan to fully operationalise the Global Goal for Adaptation by COP28, mindful of science and Indigenous knowledge, human rights and local leadership. To ensure the building goes well you must mandate a permanent agenda item on GGA, furthering transformative adaptation that will see a fundamental change in human and natural systems to protect both from the worst ravages of an unforgiving climate.