U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry
COP27 Closing Statement
In Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
November 20, 2022
We extend our thanks to the Egyptian presidency, and to all the Egyptian people, for the incredible work of hosting COP27 and for their very warm welcome here in Sharm el-Sheikh – a remarkable place that radiates both the wonder and the fragility of our one common home, this magnificent planet Earth.
Almost two years ago this very week, President-elect Biden asked me to be his special envoy for climate. It was a perilous moment. The world was rushing toward climate chaos. Any hope of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was slipping further and further away.
We’ve been sprinting to make up for lost time ever since – starting on day one, when President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement, and with our updated nationally determined contribution. It’s been full steam ahead to confront the climate crisis – both at home, and in partnership around the world.
One year ago, we left COP26 in Glasgow with nations representing 65 percent of global GDP committed to 2030 targets in line with 1.5℃. The International Energy Agency calculated that if all the commitments and initiatives put forward by Glasgow were fully implemented, we could limit warming to 1.8 degrees.
One year later, as we depart Sharm el-Sheikh, the IEA now tells us that if the new commitments and actions announced here are fully implemented, we can limit warming to 1.7 degrees….
