SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt : The Egyptian government's record on human and environmental rights was criticized by a senior Human Rights Watch official, who claimed that there is "severely curtailed" room for environmental activism in Egypt.
Environmental activists in Egypt have reportedly experienced "continuous persecution" by security agents, including limitations on travel, foreign funding, and research permissions, according to Richard Pearshouse, director of environment and human rights at HRW.
Such issues have "almost no presence" at the United Nations climate conference in Egypt this week, he says.
Germany's foreign minister says further climate-related aid should particularly help those who suffer the most from global warming and can't pay for the impacts themselves.
The head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has said she's not confident a new fund for 'loss and damage' can be agreed at this year's UN climate talks.
She also urged concrete plans for international efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, including for specific sectors.
Some developing countries and emerging economies have resisted these efforts, arguing they go beyond the requirements of the 2015 Paris climate accord.
There are countries which view this differently, maybe out of their own self interest, she said.
Mary Robinson ho is also chair of the Elders group of global leaders said this must be matched with a "landing" that brings money to the most vulnerable. She called on the World Bank and IMF to free up more funds to help these countries recover.
"They actually have ways of opening up their lending much more without losing their triple-A rating," she told the World Bank's annual meeting in Washington.
Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate has called on countries to establish a loss and damage financing structure to pay compensation for poorer countries suffering the worst effects of climate change. Nakate also called for governments around the world to keep to the 1.5 Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) warming limit set out in the Paris agreement.
Protesters are pushing for the 1.5-degree Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) limit on global warming to remain part of climate talks. Scientists agree that limiting warming to just one. degrees will save the planet from the worst effects of climate change. Earlier in the day dozens of health professionals demonstrated to highlight the impact weather events have on health.
Frans Timmermans said he remains " hopeful" that they can achieve "good conclusions" at the conference, which ends Friday. Compensation for vulnerable nations suffering the impacts of climate change is one of the main topics of this year's summit. "We're all willing to find some substantial steps forward, but we're not there yet," he said.
The missile fell in Poland, killing two people. It remains unclear who fired it, though U.S. President Joe Biden said it was "unlikely" it was fired from Russia. EU climate chief Frans Timmermans says the bloc stands beside Poland which is also an EU member.
Kerry met with China's top climate official Xie Zhenhua, a hint of improving relations seen as vital for substantial progress against global warming. Beijing put talks on hold three months ago in retaliation for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan. Kerry confirmed he had also met with Brazilian president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Lawmaker calls for legal structure to force polluters to pay for damage caused by climate change. Michael Bloss spoke at a U.N. climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Bloss criticized European governments for weakening efforts to establish a loss and damage fund. Issue of compensation was once considered taboo, because rich countries feared paying vast sums.