Good COP? Bad COP?

I am sure I am not the only one using this title, but I just had to!

I spent 2 weeks in Egypt in the?usual COP?chaos, and it took me another week to reassemble my feelings and conclusions of this 27th edition. I will not elaborate on the negotiations, many experts have already done it.

Like last year, I have mixed feelings,?maybe even "mixer" than last time. I met many people, I made great contacts, and I can see many potentials for further partnership and impact.?

On the positive side, This COP will definitely be remembered for the?COP that decided to establish a Loss and Damages fund.

?And the highlight of my 2 weeks is clearly the physical encounter with Sheela Patel from SDI (Slums Dwellers?International), for the launch of this incredibly important initiative called ROOH (Roof Over Our Heads), with the amazing ambition of helping one billion people who do not have one. And as Mary Robinson rightly said, this is not only about having a house, it is about dignity and security.?This is the COP of resilience?and adaptation, what is better than ROOH as a symbol, as long as it does not remain a symbol but moves into concrete actions!

?To be noted the announcement of the new UN net-zero standard by Antonio Guterres which will become the reference to ensure credible, accountable net-zero pledges?for industries. It is great to see that?thanks to the rigorous work done with the team over the years in 拉法基 , we are already fully aligned with the requirements.?

It was also an excellent timing, as we were one of the first companies to have their 1.5deg targets validated by Science Based Targets initiative against the very recent framework that was developed?and announced in September.?

From my side, I was very honored that Bertrand Piccard asked me to represent the industry when launching his useful guide to cities #Solutions4Cities,?very happy to meet again Gonzalo Mu?oz Abogabir CMG and Nigel Topping, CMG , such forever inspiring champions, and I was very excited to?meet all the new young engaged faces.?

Finally, The?Build Environment was very well represented with over?140 events,?in line with the importance of the topic, from only a hand full just a few years back, and an enormous activity in our pavilion, crossing path with my usual partner in crimes... Cristina Gamboa .

On the negative side, the very disappointing results of the climate and I sincerely hope that this will not be remembered as the COP that gave up on 1.5deg.?As Johan Rockstrom very rightly says: 1.5 Deg is not a target it is a limit.?

But what was very much missing from this COP is the presence of civil society. Except a group of vegan activist who tirelessly tried to inform people at the entrance of the blue zone, there were almost no civil voices coming to challenge us on our (lack of ) actions. Coming to the COP to end up talking to the same people, saying the same things and (surprisingly), all agreeing with each others'... Is not what I expect or want.?

Many of these encounters are eye openers, they give us a fantastic opportunity to get out of our little bubble and see the world with new eyes. Not this?time!

I would like to finish this article with a small anecdote?I heard (I would love to credit the author... but Chatham?house rules..)

A little beautiful blue planet, very healthy, meets a very dark looking, very damaged planet... She asks her "What happened to you?",?Poor?planet answers: "Homo Sapiens, but no worries, it passes!"

So again, even mixer feelings and finding it hard to figure out if the glass is half full or half empty, but more motivated than ever to keep up the combat!

See you soon at the COP15 n Montreal