COP27: China’s top climate envoy calls on rich countries to support poor nations at most risk from environmental damage

Delegates in Egypt will discuss issues including compensating poorer nations for damage linked to global warming

Xie Zhenhua said he hopes this year’s summit can address the needs of developing countries in areas such as emissions reduction and financing

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Xie Zhenhua, pictured at COP26, said he hopes this year’s summit can address the needs of developing countries in areas such as emissions reduction and financing. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:28pm, 7 Nov 2022

China’s top climate diplomat has called on wealthy nations to offer more support for developing countries that have the most to lose from climate change.

His comments came at the start of the United Nations’ climate conference in Egypt, where delegates from nearly 200 countries are preparing to discuss issues including compensating poorer nations for damage linked to global warming in the next two weeks.

“I hope the conference this time will meet the demands of developing countries as much as possible, as it is held in Egypt, a developing country,” said Xie Zhenhua, China’s special envoy for climate change.

He was speaking on Sunday at an event in China’s pavilion at the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Xie said he hopes this year’s summit can address the needs of developing countries in the areas of emissions reduction, financing, adaptation and capacity building, and that there will be progress in addressing their losses for damage caused by climate change.

The thorny issue of compensation from rich nations to poorer ones that are the most vulnerable to climate change is expected to be high on the agenda of the COP27 summit for the first time.