Leaders and negotiators from almost 200 countries have gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for the annual UN climate change conference, COP27. Between November 6-18, 2022, country delegates and negotiators will be joined by approximately forty thousand delegates from industry, civil society and academia to debate the climate crisis. 

Barbara Buckinx, LISD Associate Research Scholar, is a member of the Princeton University delegation. She is project lead for the LISD Project on Self-Determination, Environment and Migration and works on climate migration, with a particular focus on low-lying Pacific islands. There are multiple pressing issues on the agenda at COP27, but this is an especially important meeting for climate finance, including loss and damage from extreme weather such as flooding and slow-onset events such as sea-level rise. Dr Buckinx is looking forward to following potential progress on this intractable issue, which pits the developed countries, which are responsible for the lion’s share of historical and current emissions, against the least developed countries, which are suffering the most from the impacts of climate change. Many of the least developed countries, which are not benefiting from the high development that is closely associated with burning fossil fuels, are also exceptionally vulnerable to climate change, and they have fewer resources at their disposal to address loss and damage. Low-lying islands and other climate-vulnerable states have made it clear that they finally expect progress on climate financing at COP27, where loss and damage is on the agenda for the very first time.

Dr. Buckinx and other Princeton University delegates will report live from COP27 on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 12:00-1:00pm

Related Stories