COP22 convenes in Morocco, fighting against climate change

World Today

COP22 convenes in Morocco, fighting against climate change

The world still faces a race against time to halt climate change. That’s the message from the United Nations’ climate summit. The goal of the meeting in Morocco is to focus on the priorities of last year’s Paris Agreement.

CCTV’s Dan Williams is in Marrakesh to wrap up day one.
Follow Dan Williams on Twitter @Danielclearcut

Looking to maintain the climate action momentum in Marrakesh, the breakthrough Paris climate change agreement put the scaffolding in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But the fine print of that agreement still requires significant work and action.

A key focus of this conference will be on Africa. 700 million people in Africa are still without access to electricity. Delegates shone a solar lamp in the shape of an Ethiopian flower, as a symbolic gesture.

But there was also a call to do more to help those suffering from the consequences of climate change.

“The poorest countries live as if no planet remained. I would therefore demand climate justice and in particular climate justice for Africa. Of the 50 countries most hard hit by global warming, 36 of them are in sub Saharan Africa. A race against time is ahead of us,” Segolene Royal, the president of the COP22 climate conference, said.

That theme was continued by the incoming COP President. “We must join forces. It is our responsibility. It is transparent in front of the eyes of the world. So we should unite to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable,” Salaheddine Mezouar, the president of the COP22 climate conference said.


Kelly Sims Gallagher on COP22 conference in Morocco

For more information on COP22 in Morocco, CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke with Kelly Sims Gallagher, professor of Energy and Environmental Policy at The Fletcher School at Tufts University.