Cop27 day 1 as it happened: We’re on highway to climate hell, UN chief tells world leaders

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pointed out that the UK was the first economy in the world to commit to reach net zero, and said “there is no solution to climate change without protecting and supporting nature”. He reminded the room that at Glasgow, commitments were made to protect more than 90 per cent of the word’s forests. However, Sunak alluded to the difficult economic conditions which are being used by some as an excuse to delay climate action. He said “the pandemic almost broke the global economy” and that he is fighting for economic stability in the UK.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley warned on Monday that leaders lacked "the simple political will" to "make a definable difference in the lives of the people who we have a responsibility to serve" as she called for new funding mechanisms that would allow nations to address climate change.  Mottley called for 5 trillion US dollars of private sector savings to be unlocked to stop the emissions of planet-warming gases, but added it would "require a change in the attitude" of developed countries. She urged that nations "look at other innovative ways to expand the lending that is available from billions to trillions."

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, would target net zero emissions through sustainable development by 2050. Saudi Arabia will also contribute $2.5 billion to a green initiative in the Middle East over the next ten years, and host its headquarters, according to the crown prince.

A look at what French President Emmanuel Macron said at COP27 - 

We are here a year after Glasgow, we scaled our ambition.
- We took several steps and everything said at Glasgow should remain same.
- Russia's aggression against Ukraine has plunged the world into a difficult situation, bringing in a conflict just after the Covid crises.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held meetings with a number of leaders on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, which opened on Monday. Sunak, on his first foreign visit since taking office two weeks ago, met with Italy's new far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who took office within days of the British Prime Minister. Sunak also held bilateral talks with Kenya's new President William Ruto and European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. Sunak was initially going to avoid the negotiations, but public pressure and predecessor Boris Johnson’s plans to come changed his mind. New King Charles III, a longtime environment advocate, won’t attend because of his new role.

UAE will continue working on reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector, the country's President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed al-Nahyan said in his speech during COP27 on Monday (November 7).

"The government of the United Arab Emirates is considered as a responsible supplier of energy and it will continue to play that role as long as the world needs oil and gas," he said.

Small-scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia reeling from global warming impacts got a $1.4 billion philanthropic boost Monday to help them adapt to a world increasingly impacted by climate change.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant, distributed over four years, is earmarked for regional innovations that build resilience against drought, heat waves and extreme flooding, said an announcement at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed urged world leaders to view the need for climate change action as a change to create stronger economies for a better future. According to reports, he said investment in green technology and renewables would lead to new skills and better jobs. He further urged leaders gathered in Sharm El Sheikh to consider our children and grandchildren's future, if they fail to act. 

Antonio Guterres warned world leaders at a climate summit in Egypt on Monday that humanity faces a stark choice between working together or "collective suicide" in the battle against global warming. Nearly 100 heads of state and government are meeting for two days in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, facing calls to deepen emissions cuts and financially back developing countries already devastated by the effects of rising temperatures.

Climate activists snarled rush hour motorway traffic around London on Monday after climbing onto overhead gantries, despite police making pre-emptive arrests.

The Just Stop Oil group, which wants the UK government to halt new oil and gas extraction, said its members had blocked traffic in at least six locations on the M25 motorway, which encircles the British capital.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres once again spoke about the “historic climate pact” between wealthier and developing nations to take care of the global climate goals. Another important point of discussion was the responsibility of the wealthier nation to “contribute more” and do their part in solving the prevalent climate crisis.