The UN released a chilling report on climate change and global efforts to counter the warming planet earlier this year.
Extreme weather is on the rise, the UN said, with up to a billion people at risk of losing their homes as storms intensify and sea levels rise due to melting ice.
Some of the world's most precious ecosystems are dying, while people who live near areas hit by forest fires — now more common amid extreme heat — face respiratory problems.
As temperatures rise, tropical diseases spread. Hundreds of millions of people will be forced to migrate as agriculture collapses, the UN report said.
That's why Cop27 this year — held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt — is one of the most important to date. A gathering of tens of thousands of officials, experts and influencers to refocus efforts on reducing emissions and managing climate change.
When is Cop27?
Cop27 will be held next week, from November 6 to 18.
Where is it being held?
The conference will be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, at the International Convention Centre, which is close to the resort city’s international airport and can accommodate 20,000 people, with a main event hall that has a 7,000 capacity. The conference website says the venue is also accessible for “those with reduced mobility needs”.
Why Sharm El Sheikh?
Sharm El Sheikh is no stranger to hosting international conferences, having been the venue for the World Economic Forum twice, once in 2006 and again in 2008.
Located on the shores of the Red Sea, it houses one of the world's most unique marine ecosystems, which conservationists say is under threat. Local activists told The National they thought it apt to have a climate conference in the city because it represents one of Egypt's most pressing environmental crises.
The coastal city has also hosted a long list of peace summits, including a 1999 meeting where an agreement to restore Palestinian autonomy over the Gaza Strip was signed, and a number of other meetings related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
The prevalence of such conferences has shaped the city's infrastructure to accommodate such events, making it easy to secure and navigate for the often high-profile attendees of such events.
