Climate Tech Break: What We’re Watching at COP27

I’m Brad Carl with Silverline, a leading PR agency focused on the exciting developments in decarbonization and sustainability. The time is now for clean energy and bold solutions, and this is your climate tech break.

Next week world leaders, media and advocacy groups will gather in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for COP27 – otherwise known as the 27th session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and that’s a mouthful, so we’ll just call it COP27.

As we fast approach the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold to prevent drastic climate change. The demands will ramp up for COP27 participants trying to limit devastating warming.

COP27 will focus on several different topics covering the global south, as well as the rest of the world. Looking at the state of the climate in Africa 2020 report, and with COP27 taking place on the continent, it seems likely that the crisis and investment needed to reverse it will be discussed. The report suggests that $30 to $50 billion would need to be invested into climate adaptation.

While there is a lot to cover, the organizers have selected themes for each day. The conference will cover themes from finance to agriculture, gender, biodiversity, and conclude with civil society. In addition to these themes, we will be tracking other topics.

First up is fast-tracking the energy transition and transportation. How much progress will the wealthier countries that committed to making climate tech more affordable and accessible really have made? We expect COP27 to do a deep dive in the adoption and innovation of renewable energy technologies, particularly green hydrogen, low-carbon concrete and steel, and advancements in energy storage. Talks will also focus on the rapid expansion of electrifying transportation: from public transport to cars and delivery trucks to e-bikes and e-scooters. According to the EPA, electric power and transportation combined comprise nearly 40 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions -- so you see why there’s such a focus on these topics when we’re trying to decarbonize at scale and put our foot on the gas, so to speak.

Next up is food production and farming. For the first time ever, COP will feature two exhibits on food systems. Look for plenty of discussion on ag tech: featuring farmers, scientists, and NGOs. We’re expecting to see concrete steps aimed at making farming and food production more sustainable.

Finally, we come to funding. Developing countries, including COP27 host Egypt, want explicit pledges, especially since wealthier nations have failed to fill their previous $100 billion dollar promise. This as developing nations are straining to deal with more extreme weather and sea level rise. We’ll be watching COP27 to see if developed nations increase their pledges, and how they will hold themselves accountable --providing access, expertise and resources to developing countries on the frontlines of climate change.

As you can see, there’s a lot on the line with this conference – and we’ll be following developments from it closely – as it will be most impactful to climate tech investments here in the U.S. and around the world.

From Silverline Studios, I’m Brad Carl – power through the week.