COP27: Did it deliver for developing countries?

Following on from the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Egypt the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources would like to invite you to a panel discussion to consider the question: ‘COP 27: Did it deliver for developing countries?’.

At the COP27 conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, much of the focus is on the outsized impact climate change will have on developing countries, which are historically low emitters of greenhouse gases. The Egyptian Presidency has stated that it will draw attention to the severe impacts of climate change on African countries - the IPCC has previously reported that Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world, and many citizens of the continent have limited capacity to adapt to a changing climate. Currently, 20 million people are estimated to be facing food insecurity in east Africa because of drought.

Egypt is advocating for a “just and managed transition to a new sustainable economic model,” whereby developed and richer countries, which are likely to have higher historical greenhouse gas emissions, provide financial support to developing countries to adapt to climate change. One of the big talking points is likely to be loss and damage finance, to help developing countries recover from the impacts of climate change which are already being felt. Hearing from experts in climate and energy research and international development, we will discuss the outcomes of the conference, and the implications of the negotiations for developing countries. 

The UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources delivers world-leading research, teaching and enterprise in the sustainable use of global resources. Our research themes range from financing the low carbon transition, to sustainability at the water-food-land nexus. We collaborate with and inform policy makers across our work, including internationally on issues such as improving energy access and resource use in the developing world. 

Speakers:

Bernard Tembo is co-founder of Tec Analytics (Zambia) Limited and a Consultant. He has an interdisciplinary background in energy, economics and engineering. He is an experienced modeller and policy analyst: who holds a PhD in Energy and Economics from University College London, an MSc in Sustainable Energy from University of Cape Town and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Zambia. He has over 14 years of research and knowledge development experience in the Africa and European contexts. His work has ranged from research, policy advisory and business in the energy, climate change, mining and sustainable development fields, and has worked and consulted with various institutions in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, United States of America and Zambia.

Tom Mitchell is the Executive Director of IIED, steering the overall direction and leadership of IIED’s staff, work programmes and partnerships. IIED is a think and do tank with a focus on putting local communities at the heart of decision-making around environment and development. Tom is passionate about finding innovative ways to unlock climate justice. Until September 2022, Tom was the Chief Strategy Officer of Climate-KIC and Director of Climate-KIC International Foundation. He is a former co-ordinating lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and UN Special Representative senior advisor. 

Meron Tesfamichael is a researcher within the CCG programme and the policies and investment workstream. Meron is a senior research fellow and lecturer of political economy at the Department of Science, Engineering, Technology and Public Policy (STEaPP). Her work focuses on the political economy, social feasibility and just transition implications of climate and energy policies and initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa.

Chair: Jim Watson is Professor of Energy Policy and Director of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources; and Research Director of the FCDO Climate Compatible Growth programme.

Event details:

Registration: 5-5.30pm

Event: 5.30-7pm

Reception: 7-8pm

Event ends at 8pm

Room / venue detail: Event - Central House, Room 225; Reception - Central House, Common Room (floor 1)

Accessibility: For access information, please click here.

Book your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cop27-did-it-deliver-for-developing-count...

Event technical information for Online attendance:

This is a hybrid event, taking place in-person at UCL’s Central House building and online via Zoom. When registering to the event, please make sure you select the relevant ticket type for you: ‘In-person Attendance’ to join us on campus, or ‘Online Attendance’ to be sent the Zoom webinar joining link. If you join us online on Zoom, please ensure you download Zoom and create an account prior to the event. This session will be recorded and auto-transcribed. The recording along with the transcript will be sent to all registered attendees after the event has ended.

Photo credit: Ray Raimundo / pexels.com