The 27th United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference, COP27, kicks off this weekend in Sharm El Sheikh, Eygpt.
COP27 will run from Sunday (November 6) to Friday, November 18.
The conference will see heads of state, academics and a host of organisations and businesses from around the world gather to discuss matters related to climate change.
In a bid to show leadership on tackling climate change, the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be in attendance, and will join other world leaders including the presidents of France, the European Commission, South Africa and Ireland.
England
Despite initially saying he would not attend, Sunak took to Twitter on Wednesday (November 2) to confirm that he would be attending COP27.
“There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change,” he said.
“There is no energy security without investing in renewables.
“That is why I will attend COP27 next week: To deliver on Glasgow’s legacy of building a secure and sustainable future,” he said.
Scotland
Last year’s edition of the conference, COP26, was held at the SEC Centre in Glasgow.
Environment Minister for the Scottish government, Mairi McAllan, said: “At COP26 in Glasgow, one of our biggest achievements was raising awareness that the people least responsible for global warming are often the ones suffering its worst consequences.
“Young people in the global south are all too aware of this injustice – they have not caused this crisis, but their lives are already being impacted by its consequences.
“That is why it is so important that their voices are heard at COP27 and I am proud that Scotland is able to help make that happen,” she said.
National Farmers’ Union
Representatives from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) will be in attendance at COP27. The union has represented British farmers at every COP since 2015.
“This year we will be promoting the work farmers are doing to produce climate-friendly food, highlighting how severe weather if affecting farming and the impact that the energy crisis is having on farm businesses,” the union said.
NFU Cymru president, Aled Jones, will be speaking during the conference about the need for finance and investment in the sector, and to show the NFU’s willingness to work with farmers across the world to improve agriculture’s climate credentials.
Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW)
The FUW president, Glyn Roberts, has said that Welsh farmers are part of the solution to tackling the climate emergency.
“Farmers across the country take the climate and biodiversity emergency seriously and are actively taking steps to contribute in a positive way by protecting, enhancing and adding to existing carbon stores on farms, alongside increasing efficiencies,” he said.
“Our members are as committed as others across the UK to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as much as possible, whilst producing sustainable, nutritious food.
“Their role in the climate emergency is not one of damage but one of protection, restoration and nourishment.
“As COP27 is on the way, I’d urge you to carefully consider the facts, whether environmentally or nutritionally, and keep in mind that farming in Wales is part of the solution to tackling the climate emergency – not the problem,” Roberts concluded.
