Thunberg's nob: "Greenwashing" UN Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh

The world leaders gather for the climate - accused of greenwashing 

 

Of: 

 

Adrian Ericson, 

Olivia J Berntsson 

 

Published: Today 18.34 

 

Updated: Less than 2 hours ago 

 

NEWS 

 

Leaders from around the world gather in Egypt to find solutions to the climate crisis. 

 

But Greta Thunberg snubs the climate summit COP27 - which is sponsored by Coca-Cola. 

 

- We still have a lot of work to do, says Swedish chief negotiator Mattias Frumerie. 

 

On Sunday, COP27, this year's UN negotiations on the climate, began in the Egyptian tourist resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Tens of thousands of names are on the guest list, ranging from world leaders to activists. 

 

The conditions are dark. The goal in the Paris Agreement is to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees - but instead greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. The world is moving towards a warming of 2.5 degrees. 

 

- I see it as my job to believe that we can stay below 1.5 degrees of warming, but we still have a lot of work to do, says Swedish chief negotiator Mattias Frumerie, who is on site in Sharm el-Sheikh. 

 

The hope is that COP27 will lead to the goals of the Paris Agreement being translated into concrete action. 

 

- We assess that the meeting will mainly be characterized by four questions. It is about continued work to reduce emissions, about climate adaptation, climate financing and what we call damages and losses in the negotiations, says Mattias Frumerie. 

Sweden's chief negotiator Mattias Frumerie. Photo: Maja Suslin/TT 

 

Facts 

 

COP27 and the Paris 

 

Agreement The UN climate summit COP27 is held in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt from 6-18 November. 

 

In the Paris Agreement of 2015, most of the world's countries agreed to keep the increase in the global average temperature well below 2 degrees, and most preferably below 1.5 degrees, compared to pre-industrial times. 

 

But the countries' plans to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases are far from sufficient to limit warming to 1.5 degrees, according to a compilation that the UN climate secretariat UNFCCC has made of all climate plans ahead of the meeting. If the plans are followed, the world is instead headed for around 2.5 degrees of warming before the end of the century. 

 

Source: TT 

 

The meeting is held in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB 

 

The US and the EU are skeptical about compensation 

 

A burning issue is the requirement to establish a special fund for climate damages. It is about severely affected countries wanting compensation from rich countries that caused the climate crisis. But there both the EU and the US say no. 

 

Sweden enters the negotiations with high expectations and the ambition to highlight innovative solutions to change, says Mattias Frumerie. 

 

- We base it a lot on the story we can convey from the Swedish side today with, for example, fossil-free steel and restructuring in the financial and transport sectors. 

 

But despite Sweden being far ahead in international comparison, not enough is being done to change society. With current measures, the country's climate goals will not be reached, according to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. 

 

The climate summit began on Sunday. Photo: Peter Dejong / AP 

 

Greta Thunberg: "Greenwashing" 

 

The climate meeting has also met with opposition. Greta Thunberg does not go to Egypt and comes with sharp criticism. The world leaders bask in the glory instead of acting, says Thunberg to The Guardian.

 

- The climate meetings are mainly used as an opportunity for leaders and people with power to get attention by using various forms of greenwashing. 

 

A fact that caused strong reactions is that the climate meeting is sponsored by the multinational company Coca-Cola. Climate organizations emphasize that Coca-Cola is one of the world's largest consumers of plastic. 

 

- It is astonishing that a company so closely linked to the fossil fuel industry is allowed to sponsor a vital climate meeting, says Emma Priestland from the organization Break Free From Plastic to The Guardian. 

 

Coca-Cola assures that the company is committed to issues of site littering and sustainability. 

 

When Aftonbladet talks to chief negotiator Mattias Frumerie, he has not yet heard about the soft drink giant's sponsorship.

 

- That's exactly what I haven't noticed. But there have been issues over the years with sponsors that the presidency chooses, it is not something that we other parties are involved in. Then it is clear that we can address it in different ways if we feel that it would be a problem. 

 

Which may be the case. 

 

- We can look into that, says Frumerie. 

 

 

Greta Thunberg boycotts the climate summit. Photo: Paul Wennerholm/TT 

 

The researcher: "Big boat to turn" 

 

The climate meetings have so far failed to bring about the change required. Despite that, the negotiations are important, says Markku Rummukainen, professor of climatology at Lund University.

 

- I think we would be significantly worse off without the climate negotiations. It is important for climate work. But of course, since it is the countries themselves that decide what to do, it becomes important what happens in the countries between the meetings. 

 

The climate negotiations can support the countries' efforts, according to Rummukainen. Although the situation is critical globally, the climate scientist sees some bright spots. Partly because energy from the sun and wind has become increasingly cheaper. Partly because some countries have shown that it is possible to reduce emissions.  

 

- But as I said, it's a big boat to turn. It takes time. Then all work, every meeting, all decisions made by countries, companies and citizens are important, says Rummukainen.

Markku Rummukainen, professor of climatology at Lund University. Photo: Karin Wesslén / TT