Rabat – Climate talks at the COP27 summit in Egypt could be heading towards a deadlock after the European Union’s representatives said on Saturday that unless climate targets were tightened, the block would pull out of the deal.
Negotiations within the climate summit have made significant progress on issues relating to loss and damage, as countries approved a draft deal whereby a fund would be created to compensate poor countries for the cost of climate-induced disasters. However, the EU maintains that talks on reducing greenhouse emissions lag behind.
Converging reports indicate that unless the climate summit strikes a stronger tone on reducing emissions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the EU and other developing countries are less likely to sign the deal.
According to a Bloomberg report, climate negotiations started with a menacing undertone from the EU climate Chief Frans Timmermans. The EU official said that he would walk away from negotiations unless the talks address climate reduction goals.
“Our message to partners is clear: we cannot accept that 1.5C dies here and today,” Timmermans reportedly said. The EU’s demand for phasing out fossil fuels did not make it to the draft of the climate deal.
The UK joined the EU in demanding tougher resolutions on cutting emissions, maintaining that the current debate puts global progress on climate action in peril. The UK also demanded more action on reducing emissions before signing the deal.
While the EU seems to be displeased with the focus on climate mitigation efforts, countries that are hardest hit by climate disasters are so far satisfied with the new agenda of the climate summit.
“It is a victory, not only for Africa, but for developing nations,” Chairman of the African Group of Negotiators Ephraim Mwepya Shitima reportedly said.
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