At the moment the spotlight on Cop27 is shifting to climate change and the need for new and increasingly urgent solutions to address the future.
However, what happened to the approximately 35,000 delegates registered for the Sharm el-Sheikh summit is emblematic and thought-provoking.
Delegations from the 200 or so participating countries were faced with various logistical problems and difficulties with water and food supplies.
Cop27: problems with water and food symbolize the climate gap and emergency
Cop27 will be remembered by delegates, observers, and insiders for the logistical difficulties, the great environmental impact of the event, and the lack of water and food.
Water ran out right away, food was hard to come by, and the lack of vegan and vegetarian alternatives are emblematic of the differences between rich and poor countries on the planet.
A gap laid bare by the great organizational difficulties of the host country which is probably not ready to face a challenge like Cop27, but also by the pressing issue of loss and damage.
While countries that have suffered disastrous climate change-related events have been identified, the discussion has stalled on a crucial point: who is responsible and who will have to pay?
The issue was raised by Pakistan, through the words of Ambassador Munir Akram. The country suffered unprecedented flooding, which has caused loss of life as well as economic losses. The damage is estimated at 10 percent of GDP.
The cause of all this? Climate change has led to extreme and worrying events. Pakistan, which is considered a developing country, is asking for compensation to cope with the situation and to try to get its economy back on its feet.
Hence the emergence of a reflection on the increasingly pressing need to find effective solutions in the shortest possible time to be able to stem the damage to the environment and beyond.
UN Secretary Guterres has captured the situation perfectly: “We are on a highway to climate hell with one foot on the accelerator.” Doing something concrete is a necessity.
Solutions and new projects presented during Cop27
Among the new projects presented at Cop27 is that of an Alliance for Just Energy Transformation, signed by the WWD and UNDP, the United Nations Development Program.
This is a voluntary action to facilitate the global energy transition. The initiative aims to coordinate activities and exchange knowledge and experience. What is the main goal? The one that has been being fought for in recent years: limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 °C.
Also very interesting was the event that took place in the Italian Pavilion and carried out by WWF Italy and ECCO, a think tank which is very active on these issues. On this occasion the emphasis was on the need to accelerate the energy transition, in order to hit the 100% renewable goal in the electricity sector by the target date of 2035.
Energy conservation and efficiency are, after all, also on the agenda because of the geopolitical situation affecting Europe and the rest of the world. And that is why it is the right time to talk more and more and more about renewables as a means of preserving climate security and as an alternative to polluting and limited fossil fuels.
AI’s role in combating climate change
Climate change significantly impacts the environment, but not only. People and global economic and political balances are also affected.
Adaptation and resilience will, therefore, be the two guiding principles of the future both in Italy and everywhere else in the world.
Many efforts need to be put in place to reach the goal of zero emissions by 2050 and the commitment is increasing every day. Also, in the light of what emerged from Cop27, something must be done, it is of utmost importance to put our foot on the accelerator of change towards the energy and ecological transition.
This is why artificial intelligence systems can be a useful tool for overcoming climate challenges at a time like the one we are currently experiencing.
The goal to be pursued is to control and limit greenhouse gas emissions.
AI can be harnessed to study climate change and to be able to come up with the right solutions to be able to meet the major goals that have been set.
A number of useful insights that make us realize that there is still a long way to go, but also that the future is just around the corner and concrete and decisive action is needed.
