What’s at stake for COP27 climate talks in Egypt?A third of Pakistan flooded. Europes hottest summer in 500 years. The Philippines hammered. The whole of Cuba in blackout. This years two-week summit in Egypt, will aim to stave off the most devastating effects of a warming planet.The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an international environmental treaty signed by 198 countries and which came into force in 1994 to combat dangerous human interference with the climate system. The overarching objective is to halve global greenhouse emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 to keep warming below 1.5C. Developing countries experiencing the worst effects of climate change will aim to obtain financial help from industrialised nations responsible for the biggest share of emissions. Loss and damage also dubbed climate reparations are likely to be a main focus this year. Rich countries will be urged to spend much more money in helping countries adapt and follow through on unfulfilled promises including an annual $100bn meant to be delivered from 2020 to 2025. It may prove difficult to reach an agreement to reduce gas production, even though that is required to meet climate goals. African leaders are likely to call for a formal recognition that they should be allowed to develop their fossil fuel reserves. GLTA