Sturgeon disappointed more action not taken at Cop27 on climate crisis

The Cop27 climate summit should be remembered for a “breakthrough” that will help poorer nations facing the worst impacts of climate change, Nicola Sturgeon has insisted.

The Scottish First Minister hailed as “groundbreaking” the decision to establish a fund for loss and damage – although she said it was “deeply disappointing” that this was not matched by further commitments on tackling climate change.

She insisted: “The breakthrough on loss and damage is what I hope Cop27 will be remembered for, and that is a vital step forward for the developing world.”

Her comments came as environmental campaigners here urged the Scottish Government to deliver “concrete actions at home to get back on track to meeting its climate targets”.

Mary Church, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, stated: “The Scottish Government too must turn its climate leadership on the international stage into concrete actions at home to get back on track to meeting its climate targets.

“It must clarify its position on oil and gas and set an end date for fossil fuels within this decade in order to have any chance of delivering on our fair share of climate action.”

Those comments came as Alok Sharma – who was president of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow – said that hopes of limiting global warming to 1.5C were now “on life support”.

The deal agreed early on Sunday morning in Egypt failed to include measures such as a clear commitment to phase out all fossil fuels, Mr Sharma said.

Ms Sturgeon added: “Cop27 has finally seen an acknowledgement by developed countries that the people least responsible for global warming are the ones suffering its worst consequences and that we have an obligation to support those experiencing the impacts of the climate crisis in the here and now.

“The agreement to establish a fund for loss and damage is truly groundbreaking and is a testament to 30 years of hard campaigning by the global south and civil society.

“I am pleased that Scotland, in being the first developed country ever to make a financial contribution, has been able to play a small part in that journey working with others over the last 12 months to build the momentum that has led to today’s decision.”

While she stressed “there remains a lot of detail to be worked out”, Ms Sturgeon insisted that by agreeing to set up such a fund, the summit had “delivered a real breakthrough for vulnerable and developing countries”.

However, the First Minister added: “It is deeply disappointing that the recognition of loss and damage has not been matched by greater action to prevent a worsening of the climate crisis.

“Keeping 1.5 alive and delivering the fastest possible transition away from fossil fuels is key to preventing greater loss and damage in the future.

“Alongside loss and damage, we needed to see progress on adaptation and mitigation, on the submission of new national contributions, a pathway to 2030 and a strengthening of the language of the Glasgow Pact.

“It is simply not good enough that countries failed to make progress on that agenda, and that there has been such a strong push back on action we all know is needed if 1.5 is to remain truly within reach.

“It is vitally important that countries recommit themselves to doing everything they can to ensure we keep 1.5 alive and to building a coalition ahead of Cop28 that protects and drives progress against any further push back.”

Scottish Greens climate spokesperson Mark Ruskell said the Cop27 agreement was “far too little and far too late”.

He stated: “There has been one step forward on loss and damages but two steps back on oil and gas.

“After decades of denial, the first meaningful step has been taken to support those who are suffering the most, although actual funds remain largely empty.

“However, the lack of any ‘phase out’ or even a ‘phase down’ of all fossil fuels means that ultimately Cop 27 will be remembered as yet another monumental failure.”

Ms Church, meanwhile, said that securing a loss and damage fund was a “huge victory for global south countries”, but she questioned whether richer counties in the global north “will actually stump up the money needed”.

Lang Banks, director of WWF Scotland, said: “With no agreement reached to phase out fossil fuels at Cop27, world leaders have failed to build on the progress achieved in Glasgow last year.

“The serious lack of ambition on cutting emissions means we remain on course to climate catastrophe, undermining the positive outcome that was agreed on loss and damage.”

He added: “Following the limited outcomes of Cop27, governments everywhere must redouble their efforts to reduce emissions and take the necessary transformative action to keep warming to below 1.5C.

“Scotland has already led the way on harnessing fossil fuel-free power from renewables but we urgently need to see the same kind of progress on cutting emissions from the way we grow our food and the way we heat our homes.”