The World Climate Conference (COP27) started this Sunday in the city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with on the agenda the debate about compensations from rich countries to the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Speaking at the opening of the event, the president of COP27, Sameh Shoukry, considered this to be the first time that "in an institutionally stable space" the possibility of funding to deal with environmental change is being discussed at a high level.

At last year's COP26 in Glasgow, the richest countries blocked a proposal for a loss and damage financing body and advocated a new three-year dialogue for funding discussions, writes VOA Portuguese.

According to Sameh Shoukry, the idea is to reach some consensus at least by 2024, since "the inclusion of the agenda reflects a feeling of solidarity with the victims of climate disasters.

The secretary-general of the United Nations warned that the "planet is sending a distress signal."

"As COP27 begins our planet is sending a distress signal," said António Guterres, who pointed to a "chronic situation of climate chaos."

The meeting comes as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has revealed the eight years between 2015 and 2022 will be the hottest ever recorded in human history.

Researchers say the world has already warmed 1.2°C and limiting temperatures by 1.5°C would require emissions to fall by 43% by the end of the decade, a highly ambitious goal.

To reach the less ambitious 2 C target, emissions must fall by 27%.