In addition to pledges, you can expect scary data like this during COP27: The Middle East is warming twice as fast as global averages — and could rise as much as 5°C by the end of the century, Reuters reports, citing a study by the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the Climate and Atmosphere Research Center that will be unveiled during COP27. The surge in temperatures would lead to severe droughts that will visit widespread water and food scarcity in the region. The scenario could also see fresh underground water turn salty in areas like Egypt’s Nile Delta.

What does the study recommend? We can hazard a guess: Making good on the climate action targets set out in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement could slow the projected annual spike in MENA temperatures to c. 2°C, according to the study.

Then again, G7 nations do have a tendency to treat Paris Climate Agreement targets like unwashed dishes in the sink on the help’s day off: Pledges to cut down greenhouse gas emissions in the world’s leading economies are not happening — and if they are, it’s not fast enough, CDP and global management consultancy Oliver Wyman told Reuters.

How far off are G7 corporate emissions from the 1.5°C target? A lot. Collectively, they’re headed on a 2.7°C warming trajectory.

Some G7 countries are faring better than others: Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are in the lead with their trajectory at the 2.2°C mark, followed by France (+2.3°C) and the UK (+2.6°C).

North America does not give a [redacted]: Canada (+3.1°C) and the US (+2.8°C) are considerably behind.

NOTHING OPENS WALLETS LIKE A SENSE OF GUILT-

Talk about a drop in the ocean: Four European countries announced USD 55 mn in new funding for Africa’s climate action projects, according to a statement by the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA). The UK contributed USD 23 mn, Norway USD 15 mn, France USD 10 mn and Denmark USD 7 mn to the GCA’s AAAP Upstream Facility during a summit on climate adaptation in Rotterdam on Sunday. The facility is a joint initiative between the GCA and the African Development Bank, which aims to mobilize USD 25 bn over five years to drive climate adaptation in Africa.

Hear, hear: This comes as African countries are calling on western nations to provide more funds for climate adaptation projects in Africa, Reuters writes. During the COP26 summit in Glasgow last year, developed countries had pledged to deliver USD 40 bn by 2025 to fund climate-adaptation projects in the continent.