COP, copper, and the green transition

By Theo Normanton

2022.11.08

Representatives of more than 190 countries (including 100 heads of state) are descending on Sharm El Sheikh this weekend for the UN’s COP27 climate conference. But progress since last year’s breakthrough agreements at COP26 in Glasgow has been painfully slow. 

The United Nations Environment Program’s recent Emissions Gap Report paints a sobering picture, reporting that only 0.5 billion metric tons have been cut from the 17-billion-ton annual carbon-dioxide deficit that must be closed by 2030 if we are to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels.

As global economies look to accelerate their rollout of electric vehicles and low-carbon infrastructure, senior figures from both industry and governments have voiced concerns that resource shortfalls could hinder the green transition.