COP 27: A Mixed Bag

Développement durable - On the occasion of World Climate Day, physicist Davide Faranda, at the Environmental Transition Institute at Sorbonne University, looks back at the mixed results of COP 27 held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. What is your research focus at the Environmental Transition Institute ?    Davide Faranda: I'm looking at whether climate change is increasing the occurrence and intensity of extreme events (such as cold waves, heat waves, thunderstorms or cyclones) and to what extent these phenomena impact energy networks. If we are moving towards an energy transition that gives a greater share to wind and photovoltaics, it is essential to have a better understanding of the extreme events that can endanger the energy network and cut off production on a national or even European scale. For example, thunderstorms can cause power outages, hailstones can damage solar panels, and winds of more than 200 km can block wind power production. Can you briefly explain what the COP is, its objectives and challenges? D. F. Provided for in the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Conference of the Parties has brought together scientists, governments, NGOs and industrial groups every year since 1995. Together, they set global climate targets to adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Note that the projections made 30 years ago by scientists, at the time of the creation of the COP, correspond well to what we observe today: a global warming of 1.2-1.3°C due to greenhouse gases and already 1.6°C in France. Can you come back to the question of loss and damage, which was at the heart of this COP 27?