Poor countries and rich countries must agree to a climate pact or they will be “doom” – this is the warning of Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General.

Before the COP27 climate summit in Egypt began, Guterres stated that wealthier countries should help emerging economies accelerate their transition to renewable energy.

He stated that COP27 should be the venue to close the gap between the ambition gap, credibility gap and solidarity gap.

“It must get us back on track to reducing emissions, boosting climate resilience, adaptation, keeping the promise of climate finance, and addressing loss and damage caused by climate change.”

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Rich countries have released more heat-trapping carbon dioxide than their share by burning coal, oil, and natural gas.

Despite this, countries with lower carbon emissions, such as Pakistan, which has suffered 33 million victims to recent floods, are still more affected than their share.

The UN Environment Programme estimates that the world’s poorest countries need $70 billion per year to adapt after last year’s COP26 conference in Glasgow. This figure is expected to increase by 2030.

Poorer countries again demanded financial assistance from developed nations, calling for a loss-and-damage fund to compensate for irreparable climate damage.

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The conference was unsuccessful in reaching a conclusion. The $356 million committed was far below what was required for adaptation. Wealthy nations rejected the loss and damage fund.

Mr Guterres stated that getting concrete results on damage and loss is the “litmus-test of the governments’ commitment to the summit.

He said, “Loss or damage have been the always-postponed problem.

“There’s no time to delay it.

“We must recognize loss and damage, and create an institutional framework for dealing with it.”

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COP27 will begin Sunday in Sharm el-Sheikh and continue until 18 November.

This comes at a time when greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase by 10% and temperatures will rise by as high as 2.8C by 2025, Mr Guterres stated.

He said, “And that means that our planet is on track for reaching tipping point that will make climate chaos irreversible.

This is despite the 2015 Paris Agreement calling for temperature rises of 1.5C. He described this goal as “in intensive care”, but it is still possible to achieve it.