COP27 in Review: It Takes a Village

This episode was originally released on December 16, 2022 | In this post-election special edition episode of Holland & Knight Public Policy & Regulation Group's "The Eyes on Washington" podcast series, Senior Public Affairs Advisor Isabel Lane interviews Senior Policy Advisor Beth Viola about her time at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), most commonly referred to as COP27. Hosted in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, COP27 was a two-week gathering of diplomats, lawmakers, industry leaders and other shareholders focused on addressing climate change on a global level. Ms. Viola, who has been engaged in the COP process since 1997, shared insight on this year's COP and what it means for U.S. businesses moving forward. The primary issue at the center of COP27 was loss and damages, which was driven by the developing world wanting to ensure they receive compensation for the direct impacts of climate change they have faced, as well as continued funds to help them mitigate potential issues going forward.Ms. Viola shares details about the day-to-day experience on the ground in Sharm El-Sheikh, and emphasized her excitement about the increased participation from C-suite executives and industry leaders in key dialogues and negotiations throughout the COP. She also discusses the status of U.S.-Chinese cooperation on climate change and the international impact of a new emphasis on U.S. domestic production. Lastly, Ms. Viola touches on the implications of Egypt as a host country and what is to be expected at COP28 in Dubai.