Climate Driven by Ukraine War

Climate Driven by Ukraine War

International and Arab News

The war in Ukraine revealed the sensitivity of climate agreements to wars and major geopolitical developments, especially if they affect food and energy supplies and plunge the global economy into recession.

No matter how stubbornly some may try to prove the opposite, there is no denying that fulfilling climate commitments will be drastically affected in the coming years by the results of this fierce war in Europe, which is ultimately a struggle over natural resources and influence. But the Ukraine bombshell may raise alarm bells for fundamental adjustments in food security and energy policies worldwide, to avoid similar shocks in the future. It seems that policy makers have finally discovered that achieving food and energy security cannot be limited to increasing supplies, but rather to rationalizing consumption, enhancing efficiency and encouraging local production.

This impression was reflected in the recent international meetings to follow up on the implementation of the resolutions of the Glasgow Climate Summit and to prepare for the COP-27 summit in Sharm el-Sheikh in November. The member states of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held their annual meeting in Bonn, to review commitments to reduce emissions.

While everyone expressed good intentions as a