Cop 27: Shoukry urges more effort on contentious issues

The president of the Cop 27 UN climate summit, Sameh Shoukry, has called on all parties to go "the extra mile" to agree on lingering contentious matters, with the issue of loss and damage at risk of hindering the talks in Egypt as the conference enters its final few days.

Shoukry said parties are shying away from making decisions on loss and damage, a matter that has been debated widely at the summit over the last few days. Loss and damage is the term used to refer to the destructive effects of global warming, and is a priority for many vulnerable countries experiencing extreme climate-related events such as storms and rising sea levels.

"There are still a number of issues where progress remains lacking with resisting divergent views amongst parties," he said. Shoukry urged countries to "move collectively to address the gravity and urgency of the climate crisis" by taking "difficult political decisions".

Officials from a number of developing countries have expressed frustration at resistance from developed nations to include a loss and damage fund in the final Cop agreement. The president of the Pan-African Parliament, Fortune Charumbira, earlier today said he was disappointed at "the lack of implementation of the commitments" made during the conference, while EU executive vice-president Frans Timmermans said more high-emitting countries should contribute to any loss and damage fund that might be agreed. Timmermans also said negotiations on the mitigation work programme have "yet to reach the desired outcome" and that procedural matters are holding back progress on climate adaption.

Still, Shoukry insisted that progress has been achieved on "a large number of issues" and said the Cop presidency is "working around the clock" to ensure the negotiations conclude on time.

By Bachar Halabi and Florence Schmit