By University of Colorado Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano:
Last month’s gathering of world governments in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt for COP 27 appeared as though it was headed toward the same fate that has befallen so many climate convenings before it — a flashy event attended by dignitaries flown in on private jets that would ultimately conclude devoid of any meaningful progress on addressing the climate crisis and the challenges faced by those who stand to suffer most from it.
That is, until the final hours — extending a day past the planned end date — when Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, announced a breakthrough agreement to establish a “loss and damage” fund that will provide payments to economically vulnerable countries that stand to be hit the hardest by climate change.
The agreement represents a significant step forward for the climate justice movement not only because major, actionable outcomes are so rare among gatherings of nations with myriad competing interests, but also because it acknowledges the reality that threats to human rights are central among the many challenges wrought by a warming planet.
Read the rest of the article in The Colorado Sun.