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We recently did a poll on whether we need to see more positive news to create optimism and momentum to drive solutions and change or if we need to be confronted with the stark reality of climate change, with a clear split in the results.

Following the two-week climate summit in Egypt, representatives and negotiators from across the globe reached a series of conclusions; the most prominent of which being support for climate victims in the form of a loss and damage facility – with a commitment to set up a financial support structure for the most vulnerable by the next COP in 2023.

Today saw biodiversity take centre stage at COP27, which aimed to advance and institutionalize action towards valuing, conserving, restoring, and sustainably using biodiversity across terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems to reduce climate change impacts and leverage nature-based solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and build resilience for people and nature.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 16^th November, will be biodiversity day at COP27, focusing on discussions around nature and Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Nature-based Solutions are actions that involve working with and enhancing natural habitats for societal good through restoration, management and protection; such as preserving and regrowing forests, and restoring wetlands and peatlands as carbon sinks, or regrowing mangrove swamps as barriers against storm surges and higher sea levels.

Attendees to COP27 will today be discussing decarbonisation as part of the themed daily schedule. Decarbonisation Day aims to promote discussion on how heavily polluting industries such as oil and gas extraction, and construction, can reduce their emissions using innovative techniques.

Finance Day was momentous at COP26 in Glasgow last year, with high-profile investor coalitions launched and bold commitments from the likes of the UK to transform finance sectors into green drivers of the net-zero transition.

‘Rank deception’ UN chief slams corporate greenwashing at Cop27

With immediate looming headlines around COP27 such as ‘World is on ‘highway to climate hell’, UN chief warns at Cop27 summit’, and growing disillusionment at the UNFCCC process itself, which teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg recently described as a “scam”, it can be hard to find stories about positive change and technological advances and breakthrough.

More than 120 world leaders have arrived at the COP27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. 

GHG Inventory Diagram. Source: Greenhouse Gas Protocol