A special session of UNDP’s discussion series hosted at the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara urges leaders to translate promises from Glasgow into bold and decisive actions in Sharm El-Sheikh

Ankara, 31 October 2022 – Just days before this year’s global climate summit opened in Egypt, “Let’s Talk Climate,” the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) discussion series aimed at promoting greater urgency in the fight against climate change, organized a special session broadcast live on YouTube and attended by dozens of members of the international community. The session, moderated by UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Mert Fırat, was hosted by the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara to mark the handover from the United Kingdom to Egypt of the Presidency of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The discussion focused on how to implement full, timely, inclusive, and at-scale climate action on the ground while ensuring a just transition that, in the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals, “leaves no one behind.” 

“Humanity has disrupted the rules of nature, and we have lost so much, for instance, the summers and winters we remember from our childhoods. Our Human Development Report for 2022 shows that world is in a very high state of anxiety. So where can we look for hope for radical change?” asked UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton. “Halting subsidies to fossil fuels, detaching economic growth from destroying nature, and building solidarity between countries that create climate change and those that are suffering most from it. We need to come up with solutions in which richer countries support the less fortunate ones, to achieve the kind of global compact we need to get out of this horror movie. We should implement win-win solutions where we gain from shifting from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and renewable energy. I hope together we can translate our anxiety into bold action.”

“The Presidency’s vision for COP27, is centered around a COP for implementation where we can demonstrate success stories that can be replicated and scaled up, discuss challenges facing the transition to a low-carbon, climate resilient pathway, identify elements for an equitable and just transition, and finally strengthen the resolve to keep the 1.5 degree target within reach,” said Amr El Hamamy, Head of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt. “We will lead a thorough and comprehensive discussion between developing and developed countries, to try to bridge the gap in different positions and rebuild trust between North and South, so that the world can rise to overcome climate challenges.”

“The UK Presidency continues to be as ambitious as possible to ensure we keep 1.5 alive and work with all parties and stakeholders to accelerate more ambitious climate action ahead of COP27 in Egypt.” said Marianne Young, Deputy British Ambassador to Türkiye. “COP27 is a critical moment to redouble our efforts and show that the transition is gaining pace, not standing still. To avoid and respond to the most catastrophic impacts of a changing climate, COP27 must build on commitments made at COP26, with Glasgow and Paris as the baseline of our ambition. The Glasgow Climate Pact remains the blueprint for accelerating climate action in this critical decade.”

Let’s Talk Climate COP27 special session was also released on UNDP Türkiye’s Youtube channel.

To watch the full session: https://youtu.be/rkjvtC_ulLo?t=2

More information on Let’s Talk Climate: iklimce.undp.org.tr and @iklim_ce

Media Contact: Faik Uyanık, UNDP Türkiye, faik.uyanik@undp.org