COP27 in Photos

6 Nov - UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell addressed participants at the opening of COP27, calling for more accountability and transparency. The World Meteorological Organization’s provisional State of the Global Climate in 2022, which warned that the past eight years are on track to be the warmest on record, underscored the importance of greater, faster climate action.

7 Nov - The Secretary-General opened the high-level Climate Implementation Summit calling for “a climate solidarity pact.” Lea Manugerwa, a climate activist from Uganda, asked world leaders to speak and act as if they are in an emergency “because that’s what it is.” The Secretary-General launched an executive action plan to ensure universal access to early warning systems to prevent the worst impacts of disasters.

8 Nov - The Secretary-General’s expert group on net-zero emissions commitments by non-state entities, led by former Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, released its much-anticipated report. Calling it a “how-to guide to ensure credible, accountable net-zero pledges” the Secretary-General spoke against entities “using bogus ‘net-zero’ pledges.”

9 Nov - On Finance Day, activists’ took over parts of the venue, chanting “Stop funding fossil fuels. Stop funding death.” The Secretary-General spoke at the launch of the Climate TRACE coalition - an independent mechanism to track greenhouse gases - spearheaded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, calling the initiative “a wake-up call to Governments and the financial sector.”

10 Nov - Youth Day kicked off with all-day activism and events at the first-ever Children and Youth Pavilion. Separately, at the launch of the annual “10 new insights into climate science,” scientists stressed the need for urgent global policy responses to the increasing losses and damages suffered by vulnerable communities.

11 Nov - On Decarbonization Day, a new UN report called for a circular carbon economy, targeting cement, iron, steel, chemicals and petrochemicals industries as the most significant emitters. “Stop lying and greenwashing,” urged activists at a fashion industry event - the industry is responsible for up to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions.

12 Nov - “The effects of climate change in rural areas around the world are devastating,” said the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador Sabrina Elba on Agriculture and Adaptation Day. “It's literally adapt or starve.” Representing indigenous communities, SDG Advocate Hindou Ibrahim, who joined a mass protest at the venue, called for climate justice. “We are losing our culture, our identity, our life.”

14 Nov - “COPs should be more inclusive of women and girls,” said the Chair of the Elders, Mary Robinson, in an interview. On Women and Water Day, the first high-level ministerial roundtable on pre-2030 ambition saw governments issue a collective call to urgently ramp up mitigation efforts and climate action. Pakistan, a country highly vulnerable to water-related disasters, was represented by Climate Minister Sherry Rehman.

15 Nov - On Civil Society Day, while delegates attended events, including on the recent UNEP Emissions Gap Report, which warned of narrowing options for limiting warming to 1.5°C, activists at COP27, representing hundreds of civil society organizations, protested against oil and gas exploration. At a press conference, the NGO Urgewald warned that around $5 billion is being invested in exploration in Africa.

16 Nov - On Biodiversity Day, UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Ellie Goulding called for more action to protect coral reefs. She was joined by Lewis Pugh who swam to Sharm el-Sheikh in the world’s first swim across the Red Sea. “What is good for biodiversity is good for climate and what is good for climate is good for biodiversity,” explained UNEP’s chief Inger Andersen, talking about two of the greatest environmental challenges of our time.

17 Nov - Less than 24 hours before COP27 was meant to wrap up, the Secretary-General spoke to the media, calling for global solidarity. “The world is watching and has a simple message: stand and deliver,” he stressed. The annual People’s Plenary, which started with a blessing from the indigenous peoples of Brazil, saw civil society members demand climate justice.

18 Nov - On what was supposed to be the final day of COP27, young Dramani Sam, who represented Ghana, asked delegates if youth should take over the negotiations. “If all of you were young people like me, wouldn’t you have already agreed to do what is needed to save our planet?” she asked, igniting a standing ovation. COP27 President Sameh Shoukry called on parties to urgently work together to resolve the outstanding issues.

19 Nov - In what was shaping up to be one of the longest COPs in history, around-the-clock negotiations continued in the rooms and corridors of the main plenary halls. At the same time, event organizers started dismantling pavilions, offices and food stands as many participants began exiting the conference.

20 Nov - At 9:18 a.m. local time, COP27 concluded as weary delegates paid tribute to COP27 President Sameh Shoukry for his leadership. The conference concluded with a historic decision to establish and operationalize a loss and damage fund. “Together, let’s not relent in the fight for climate justice and climate ambition,” said the Secretary-General in his closing statement.