What happened with Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the ocean and the cryosphere at COP27?

Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) applauds the stronger ocean and cryosphere commitments as reflected in the recent UN Climate Change meeting UNFCCC COP27 outcome document, the “Sharm el-Sheikh Implementation Plan”, as well as the further announcements and declarations made throughout the COP27. The urgency for change as communicated by various scientific reports over the years, including the IPCC 6th Assessment Report, which had PML lead authors and was “welcomed” within the Implementation Plan considered strong wording showing recognition of the science and urgency needed. Despite this and disappointingly, the final COP27 outcome text used the wording “phasing down’ fossil fuels, rather than the more ambitious “phasing out’ of fossil fuels. On a more positive note, there was a last-minute breakthrough agreement to provide “loss and damage” funding for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters, which had been a sticking point for decades although it’s implementation will need future negotiations and planning.