GECF to organise co-ordination meeting ahead of COP 27

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) will hold a co-ordination meeting in the run-up to the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP 27), slated to take place in Egypt.The first GECF co-ordination meeting in the run-up to COP27 will be held via videoconference on September 15, from 3pm to 6pm Doha time.Being held in Africa, this edition of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties raises expectations to advance on some critical issues under the Paris agreement framework, which are of interest to the developing countries, particularly with regard to climate ambition, long-term finance, adaptation, transfer of technology and capacity building.The GECF meeting aims to brief its member countries on the latest developments concerning the UN climate change negotiating streams, and to provide a platform for its 19 members to exchange their views and insights.The event will begin with the opening remarks of Tarek El Molla, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources of Egypt, and the introductory remarks of Mohamed Hamel, Secretary-General of the GECF.Featured speakers include Bernd Hackmann, UNFCCC Secretariat; Diego Pacheco Balanza, Bolivia Climate Negotiator; Chukwumerije Okerek, IPCC Working Group III; Zarie Zare, Environmental Coordinator of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries; Hamza Merabet, Permanent Researcher in Algeria’s Renewable Energy Development Centre; the Egypt Representative; and Mustafa Amer, GECF researcher.