Sturgeon: Much work yet to do on climate change after Cop27
Scotland’s First Minister attended the summit in Egypt this month.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.There remains “much work yet to do” on climate change after Cop27, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The conference in Sharm El-Sheikh came to an end at the weekend, after talks which stretched into the early hours of Sunday morning before an agreement was reached.
But the deal has been criticised in the UK, with Cop26 President Alok Sharma saying hopes to keep global warming below 1.5C were “on life support” and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying “more must be done” on climate change.
But there was praise or the work done on loss and damage, with a fund being set up that would draw on contributions from the world’s wealthiest nation to support developing countries struggling with the impact of climate change.
I think it was a missed opportunity in Egypt that that didn't happen
Speaking to the PA news agency on Monday, Nicola Sturgeon said: “I think Cop27 in Egypt was an opportunity to build on the commitment made in Glasgow a year ago, not just to keep the ambition of limiting temperature rises to 1.5C alive, but actually see action that would make the world much more confident about achieving that goal.
“I think it was a missed opportunity in Egypt that that didn’t happen.”
The First Minister added: “Similarly we didn’t see the progress that many would have liked to see around an acceleration of of the transition away from fossil fuels, we didn’t see the increase in funding for adaptation.
“I think lots is needing done in the aftermath of Cop27.”
The First Minister praised the movement on loss and damage, with the Scottish Government having pledged an extra £5 million in funding for developing countries earlier this month during her visit to the summit.
“Unless we do more to lower emissions and do more to help countries adapt to climate change, then we’re going to see that loss and damage continue to increase,” the First Minister added.
“So there is much, much work yet to do.”