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ESCAP @COP27

Background

COP27 marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will focus on “Delivering for people and the planet”.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres ahead of the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) has called for "commitments to deliver on emissions reduction by 45 per cent by 2030” and for working together to “steer humanity to the path of living in harmony with the planet.”

In support of that call, the Egyptian Presidency of COP27 has identified four priority areas:

  • Mitigation;
  • Adaptation;
  • Finance;
  • Collaboration to deliver.

The challenge for ESCAP and the Asia-Pacific region

The Asia-Pacific region is home to six of the top 10 global emitters of greenhouse gases and six of the countries most affected by climate change in the world. The heavy concentration of global population in Asia and the high level of climate vulnerability in the Pacific exacerbate the socioeconomic impacts of climate change. Thus, Asia and the Pacific has a major responsibility to reduce the increasing vulnerability to climate change by rapidly moving towards low/zero carbon pathways and increasing investment in resilience.

Focus on climate finance

Ahead of COP27, ESCAP, together with other Regional Commissions, partners with the incoming Egyptian Presidency of COP27 and the UN High-Level Champions for Climate Action to organize a series of five regional forums on facilitating investment flows into climate-related initiatives. The Asia-Pacific Climate Finance Forum, as part of the global initiative, served to identify investment opportunities around the region and connect them with financiers. Please refer to the List of projects in Asia and the Pacific which showcases many of these opportunities.

Why ESCAP is participating in COP27

ESCAP wants to:

  • Raise awareness of and support to enhanced regional cooperation for realizing the commitments of countries in the region to carbon neutrality by 2050 and 2060 (40 ESCAP member States have made pledges.
  • Facilitate agreement with key regional and global partners (governments, international organizations, civil society, etc.) to enhance support for regional initiatives on raising climate ambition, building on the agreed outcomes of the Committee on Environment and Development through to the 79th ESCAP Commission Session in May 2023, continued engagement with the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action, the Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2023 and COP28 (in consultation with the host country, United Arab Emirates).
  • Increase the visibility of ongoing ESCAP work on climate change and awareness of regional cooperation actions, including sectoral specific initiatives such as the Regional Cooperation Mechanism on Low Carbon Transport, Asia-Pacific Initiative on Electric Mobility, SDG7 Roadmaps and financing climate action.
  • Reiterate the importance of focusing on ‘climate justice’.