World in crisis provides grim backdrop for Cop27 UN climate talks in Egypt

Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said the talks were being overshadowed by Russia’s attack on Ukraine that has triggered political and economic upheaval around the world.

Attendees of the Cop27 UN Climate Summit arrive in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt (Peter Dejong/AP)

Envoys from around the globe have gathered in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm El-Sheikh for talks on tackling climate change that come as the world also grapples with multiple crises, including the war in Ukraine, high inflation, food shortages and an energy crunch.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned last week that the planet was heading towards irreversible “climate chaos” unless countries find a way to put the world back on track to cut emissions and help poor countries cope with the impacts of global warming.