Greta Thunberg at a demonstration in Glasgow during the COP26 summit (Image: PA/Andrew Milligan)

Representatives from almost 200 nations will next week converge on Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for round 27 of the UN’s annual climate change conference. Formally titled the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP27 for short) and unofficially labelled the “Implementation COP”, this year is crunch time for the world to “mend multilateralism, rebuild trust and unite at the highest political levels to address climate change”.

So, much to do.

This year marks 30 years (albeit only 27 conferences) since the adoption of the UN’s environmental treaty (UNFCCC). It’s been deemed the meeting for nations to make moves and come good on promises made.

At COP26, all 197 parties signed the Glasgow Climate Pact, which comprised four key pillars: “mitigation” (emissions reduction), “adaptation” (lessening the blow of climate change), “finance” (dollars needed to deliver on climate goals), and “collaboration” (speaks for itself).

COP27 will be dedicated to establishing “implementation frameworks to bridge action” on any and all commitments made by nations, said COP27 president Sameh Shoukry in an open letter to all 45,000 participants.

“This means the full and faithful implementation of all the provisions of the Paris Agreement along with pursuing even more ambitious NDCs [nationally determined contributions] if we are to keep the temperature goal within reach and avert further negative impacts,” he wrote.

Priority areas include “just transition”, food security, innovative finance, the future of energy, green hydrogen, water security and vulnerable populations. Roundtable discussions will put more than 100 heads of state in conversation with non-governmental organisations, multilateral money-makers (banks), private sector CEOs and civil society.

Which big names are going?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will not be attending. Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, alongside Pacific Minister Pat Conroy and junior minister Senator Jenny McAllister, will instead be representing Australia.

US President Joe Biden, new UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (although he took a little coaxing), French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Italy’s new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are all attending. Israel’s caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid pulled the pin on his plans to attend after conceding defeat to Benjamin Netanyahu.