Cop27 is full of politicians and policymakers – but the global south doesn’t work that way

‘This imbalanced approach isn’t just harmful to the global south. It hurts the global north, too.’ John Kerry at Cop27, Egypt, 11 November 2022. Photograph: Sedat Suna/EPA

When I say Africans are deeply disappointed with Cop27 so far, I don’t want to be misunderstood. There have been real signs of progress, including meaningful shifts towards climate justice by European leaders. But the hope that the global south would have its voice heard by the most powerful nations at this year’s Cop summit has – predictably enough – failed to materialise.

For years now, global climate negotiations have been dominated by world leaders, policymakers and intergovernmental organisations, leaving little space for anyone else. There is not really any impetus to do otherwise.