Who should pay for the damage caused by natural disasters caused by climate change? It is one of the main topics of discussion at the climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. All world stars will come together there in two weeks.

EU Commissioner Frans Timmermans is chairing the talks on behalf of the European Union. The EU negotiates as a bloc. Today he received his mandate from the European climate ministers, which Timmermans describes as “building bridges and bringing the entire international community together”.

It’s going to be quite a job. Last year’s summit was all about “keeping alive” the possibility of not letting the earth warm more than a degree and a half. More and more climate scientists are now openly doubting the feasibility, but the EU Commissioner remains cautiously positive. “You can still do that,” he says. “We have to keep the countries to the agreements made in Glasgow”.

The EU is at the forefront of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Union has committed to reducing emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990. Timmermans hopes this follows a good example. “Much will depend on the attitude of China and India. We need to work with them to reduce emissions there too.”

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Last year all eyes in the world were on Glasgow, now less attention is being paid to the climate summit. The EU is dealing with the war in Ukraine, the consequences of which also have major consequences for the climate. Because Russia almost turned off the gas tap, many countries are turning to coal, which emits much more CO2 when burned and is much more polluting.

Timmermans is concerned, but points out that the European climate goals are not at risk: investments in renewable energies are also being considered more than ever. “When you accelerate to wind, solar and hydroelectric power, you keep the use of the extra coal fairly short and your emissions reduction goals are not jeopardized.”

The Russians are also coming to Sharm El Sheik. The European Union will not speak to the Russian delegation because of the war in Ukraine. This is politics. But Timmermans will listen carefully to the Russians, “because it’s a United Nations meeting,” he says. According to him, it is perhaps the only point on which they can still be somewhat constructive, because they themselves are also suffering greatly from climate change.

special assets

One topic that will receive a lot of attention this year is the so-called “Loss and Damage”. Natural disasters caused by climate change are increasing. What needs to be done to limit the damage and who is responsible for it? Small island nations at risk of disappearing and other vulnerable countries want a special fund to compensate them.

According to Timmermans, the item is on the agenda with EU support, but other rich countries, including the United States, do not want to prejudge the outcome of this discussion. Then they can be specifically addressed by the poorer countries about their responsibility and may have to pay for it financially, which they want to avoid.

Awaken

“So put it on the agenda and keep the result halfway open,” is the solution, according to Timmermans in this discussion. He thinks up concrete measures, such as a worldwide warning system that will inform you much earlier and more precisely if dangerous weather is imminent. According to the EU Commissioner, President Egypt is counting on the support of the EU as a bridge builder in this discussion.

“If you see how extremely cautious the Americans were in this discussion last year, we’ve really made progress, but of course I’d like to go faster. But the amount of natural disasters over the past year has woken everyone up.”

Are such climate conferences still the way to change? “We did it in Glasgow so I don’t know why we didn’t do it again this year, even under these very difficult circumstances. We can’t give up.”