Ken Markowitz Quoted by Energy Monitor on Focuses, Expectations at UN Climate Change Conference

Energy Monitor has quoted Akin Gump climate change group co-leader Ken Markowitz in the article “COP27: Manage your expectations.” The story reflects the business perspective of the UN climate change conference (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt this November as expectations for the conference are lowered due, Energy Monitor says, to a global energy crisis that risks economic recession and social unrest.

By contrast, the publication notes, last year’s COP26 conference in Glasgow was full of excitement as countries were expected to increase energy transition plans. The article also reports that countries also agreed at that time to submitting enhanced nationally determined contributions before 2022 ended, however few have.

There is concern of “the euphoria of Glasgow” being overshadowed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Markowitz said, “as many countries scramble to secure fossil resources rather than focusing on clean energy solutions.”

Markowitz added that the Biden administration looks to strengthen its position in the Middle East and Africa through partnership with Egypt in the launching of the “Adaptation in Africa” program, which will target climate resilience and adaptation across Africa. Markowitz noted that he sees the current complex geopolitical climate in which COP27 will be held as an opportunity for fresh collaboration: “The Biden administration will use the [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] process to find common ground and strengthen cooperation with China on climate change despite the looming hyper geopolitical tensions.” He added that passage of the Inflation Reduction Act by the U.S. means that the country enters COP27 in “its strongest negotiation position in years” and will use that as leverage to “motivate its strategic partners to increase their climate ambition.”