Joe Biden arrives in the criticized Cop27. Responses on climate resources and human rights awaited

After six days of meetings, negotiations, heads of state and protests, in a highly criticized COP27 with stellar costs and denied rights, it is the day of the US president Joe Biden. The Democrat arrives in Sharm El-Sheikh just three days after the turbulent Mid-term elections where for now he seems to have breathed a sigh of relief enough to unleash a moderate smile, but at the Egyptian COP it is feared that his intervention in terms of climate can be disappointing.

As Antònio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, said, for the success of this Conference an agreement will be necessary between the two major emitting countries, the China they States. If the first thaw after the tensions related to has finally been recorded Taiwanwith the climate envoys of the two countries meeting informally, on the other hand, however, the two superpowers still seem far from concrete (economic) agreements and commitments both to finance the less well-off countries and to keep the promises made. Cop26 to end the empire of fossil fuels.

Today, at Cop27, Biden will speak at around 5.15 pm (Egyptian time) just as for the whole day the crucial theme will be that of decarbonization andoil & gas. From the most vulnerable countries to the dozens of activists who are staging sporadic protests, everyone is calling for an end to the era of fossils: in the meantime, however, in this summit on the Red Sea, the presence of fossil lobbyists paradoxically it increased by 25% compared to last year in Glasgow. A bad sign.

All hands up, the Fridays for Future protest in Egypt: “Stop oil & gas”

After all, in terms of decarbonization and aid, it is likely that Joe Biden himself does not make big announcements: in the States a $ 369 billion domestic climate investment package that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the country by 40%but there is no transparent and full-bodied commitment in sight to explain how Americans will help the countries of the world that are paying the heaviest bill of the crisis.

For now, the only indication in this regard has come from the special envoy for the climate John Kerry which presented the launch for a public-private agreement in favor of renewable energies in developing countries and based on a carbon credit system, a project that seems to convince little experts and experts.

Cop27, raised fists and silence: the protest of activists in white

Finally, another growing theme within the COP27 pavilions is that of rights. If on the one hand several delegates have denounced problems with Egyptian security, from checks to unjustified expulsion, the case of the imprisoned dissident and blogger is especially the case. Alaa Abdel Fattahon a thirst strike since the beginning of Cop, now medically assisted and whose sister was present at the summit to reiterate the gravity of his absurd incarceration.

Egypt, protests against Al Sisi. The police shoot at the demonstrators

The case was raised by several heads of state earlier this week and, given that Biden is likely to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one wonders if they will discuss the human rights situation in the country and if the US president will raise. the plight of the incarcerated political activist.