More than 100 leaders gathered to talk about climate change, what will happen if Russia-China-India stays away?

Posted on 7th Nov 2022 by rohit kumar

More than 100 world leaders are about to discuss a formidable problem that scientists call Earth's greatest challenge. However, observers say not much is expected. About 50 heads of state or heads of government will be on stage in Egypt on Monday, the first day of high-level international climate talks. Much of the focus will be on national leaders telling their stories of those devastated by climate disasters. The negotiating session will conclude on Tuesday with a speech by Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, whose country suffered at least $40 billion in damages from summer floods and displaced millions.

 

This meeting is unlikely to have such dramatic developments or headlines that have happened in previous such meetings. That's because most leaders are meeting on Monday and Tuesday, and there's a potentially policy-shifting midterm election in the US. Then the leaders of the world's 20 richest countries also have the opportunity to gather for their powerful group in Bali, Indonesia. Nigel Purvis, a former US negotiator and CEO of the Organization for Climate Advisors, said: "There are big climate summits and small climate summits and it was never expected to get bigger."

 

Will you stay away from China-India meeting?

The leaders of two of the three biggest carbon polluters - China and India - are probably not participating in this climate dialogue. US President Joe Biden, one of the leaders of other top polluting countries, is arriving days later than other presidents and prime ministers. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was initially reluctant to attend the talks, but public pressure and plans for the arrival of his predecessor, Boris Johnson, changed his mind. Maharaja Charles III, a longtime environmental advocate, will not attend because of his new role.

 

Russia is also not attending the meeting

Russia's leader Vladimir Putin, whose invasion of Ukraine created energy chaos, will also not be involved. UN climate chief Simon Steele said: 'I believe we have enough (leadership) now to achieve very effective results.' A large number of leaders are from the host continent of Africa.

 

'Africa most vulnerable to climate change'

Mohamed Addo of the organization 'Power Shift Africa' said, 'Historic pollutants causing climate change is not visible. Africa is the least responsible, most vulnerable to climate change and a continent that is leading the way and providing leadership. “It is remarkable in itself that so many leaders are coming to the summit,” said climate analytics scientist Niklas Höhne. My hopes for the ambitious climate goals in these two days are very low.

 

Also Read: Environment Protection: The world needs to learn from India's growing steps

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