The main world leaders arrive this Monday in the Egyptian city of Sharm el Sheikh to participate in the COP27, a summit that will be marked by the absences of the heads of state of some of the largest economies and most polluting countries on the planet, such as Russia of China.
More than a hundred Heads of State and Government – with some still to be confirmed – will attend the the most important event on the planet global warming and its effects, which in this edition includes in its agenda for the first time the losses and damages associated with climate change.
But despite the international commitment to limit and reduce emissions of greenhouse gasesseveral of the leaders of the main economies and most polluting countries in the world, such as Russia, India or China will not be present at the summit with high-ranking representatives.
A summit with surprises
Amidst the political uproar in the United Kingdom and the succession to the throne, many doubts about who would be in charge of representing the country in Sharm el Sheikh.
Initially, the king was going to come Charles IIIa staunch defender of environmental policies, but the British government vetoed the monarch’s assistance.
The new British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunakinitially decided not to participate in COP27something that was harshly criticized by the opposition as a lack of leadership, but he finally announced his attendance.
For his part, the US President Joe Biden will also attend the summit. Of course, he will not be present during the meeting of heads of state, between November 7 and 8, when legislative elections are held in his country, and he will land in Egypt on the 11th.
Another surprise is the attendance of the president-elect of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvawho defeated the controversial Jair Bolsonaro in the elections in a victory much celebrated by the environmental left.
During his campaign, the Brazilian focused on protecting the Amazon and advocated reintroducing policies to fight climate change.
Likewise, the first COP in Africa since 2016 will feature the assistance from the hydrocarbon-rich monarchies of the Persian Gulf.
United Arab Emirates, represented by President Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, and Saudi Arabia, with the assistance of the controversial crown prince and new prime minister Mohammed bin Salmanwill be one of the main focuses of the event by leading the energy transition in the region.
Emirates, blinded in the blue and green hydrogen production as alternatives to oilwill also host the next COP28 in its capital, Abu Dhabi.
big absences
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putinwill not attend COP27 despite the fact that the energy and climate repercussions of the Russian invasion of Ukraine will be one of the main focuses of the conference.
In addition, Putin has received a harsh international response and has few allies in the Westsomething that could cause the summit to take a turn and its main task would remain in the background.
Yes, a Russian delegation will attend, which will press for technologies that allow to reduce the carbon emissionsconsidering that the fight against climate change is “joint”, according to the Kremlin.
Xi Jinpingpresident of China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases, will not attend the summit either despite being one of the most powerful economies in the world, which is also increasing the use of coal as one of its main sources of energy.
Xi’s denial of Sharm el Sheikh comes after China suspends bilateral negotiations on climate change with the United States in August, one of the measures taken in retaliation for the visit to Taiwan of the president of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
India, one of the most polluting countries in the world, he has not yet confirmed the attendance of his prime minister, Narendra Modiwhile the Indian delegation will try to tackle climate finance for developing countries, as well as take pressure off itself to abandon coal use, as will China.