Cop27 deal leaves 1.5C global heating pledge ‘on life support’, says Alok Sharma

The Cop27 agreement is seen as an important step forward in addressing the impacts of climate change, but many feel it has done little to limit global heating

Alok Sharma has said the ambition to limit global heating to 1.5C is “on life support” after a deal was struck in the early hours of Sunday morning at the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt.

“Friends, I said in Glasgow that the pulse of 1.5 degrees was weak,” he said in a speech at the closing plenary session of the UN climate summit. “Unfortunately, it remains on life support.”

The Cop26 president, who shepherded through the Glasgow Climate Pact last year, welcomed what he described as “historic” progress on the contentious issue of loss and damage, with an agreement on a fund to compensate vulnerable countries for irrevocable climate damage reached at the summit.

The agreement was a major breakthrough after developing countries on the frontline of the climate crisis have called for loss and damage to be addressed for decades.

But Mr Sharma also ticked off the lack of progress on an agreement for the ambition to cut greenhouse gas emissions to limit global heating.

“Emissions peaking before 2025, as the science tells us is necessary. Not in this text.

“Clear follow-through on the phase-down of coal. Not in this text.

“A clear commitment to phase out all fossil fuels. Not in this text,” he said in his speech.

“And all of us need to look ourselves in the mirror and consider if we have fully risen to that challenge over the past two weeks,” he added.

Adding to the chorus of disappointment on ambition to limit global heating on Sunday, shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband accused countries of “kicking the can down the road”.

“Cop27 has delivered an important step forward in recognising the consequences of the climate crisis for the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries,” Mr Miliband said, referring to the agreement struck on loss and damage.

"But yet again we hear the unmistakable sound of the can being kicked down the road on the necessary actions to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees – and, as a result, it is now at grave risk.”

The Press Association contributed to this report