Party poopers give COP27 a whiff of failure

As Ukraine casts a pall over climate confab, some past attendees bow out.

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Representatives of the COP27 presidency meet Oct. 6 in Sharm el-Sheikh to review preparations for the annual UN climate conference in November. Photo: UN Development Programme Egypt.

The setting will be Sharm el-Sheikh, a resort city on the Red Sea that Google describes as being “known for its sheltered sandy beaches, clear waters and coral reefs” and as having “a palm tree-lined promenade … filled with bars and restaurants.” An international airport, meanwhile, is conveniently close.

Sounds great! The event is November 6-18’s COP27, otherwise confusingly known as the Conference of the Parties, the United Nations annual confab about combating climate change. It’s a get-together that’s grown in importance over the years as the world grapples with global warming.

This one, however, is beginning to have the smell of a dud.