The COP27 began this weekend and introduced a fairly new concept for climate change called WASP. It has nothing to do with insects or religion. It stands for World Adaptation Science Programme.
The word “adaptation” has my attention. Measured climate experts have long said that humans must “adapt” rather than take drastic measures that harm the poorest populations. This means that communities should be moved out of at-risk locations. Or places that get hotter should invest in air conditioning. Or food production is moved to better-suited locations. It does NOT mean ripping resources away from people that have little to begin with.
A lot of these policies will require money and the COP27 will start to calculate that. Should wealthy countries contribute to funds to help poorer countries respond? Leaders will debate that this week and we will watch this conversation carefully.
