The U.N. climate summit or COP27 concluded on November 20, two days longer than expected as grueling debates over a historic fund and fossil fuel emissions forced negotiations to drag on.

 It culminated in an important historic decision: the agreement to establish a "loss and damage" fund, which would provide vulnerable nations with financial support in addressing the climate catastrophe.

António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, welcomed the decision and supported the fund, but he emphasized that more must be done to substantially reduce emissions. He stressed that the 1.5-degree temperature limit is the "red line" that humanity must not cross and urged everyone to continue "the struggle for climate justice and climate ambition."

However, nations did not agree to phase out or even reduce their use of all fossil fuels, worrying climate scientists and experts who warn that more aggressive action and drastic reductions are required to limit warming.

A fund for loss and destruction is necessary, but it won't help if the climate problem wipes out a small island nation or turns all of Africa into an arid desert. António Guterres, the U.N. secretary general, tweeted. In terms of climate ambition, "the world still needs a tremendous leap."

From November 6 to 20, COP27 hosted over 100 Heads of State and Government, approximately 35,000 attendees,  and multiple pavilions exhibiting climate action around the globe and across all sectors. It also conducted high-level and side events, significant negotiations, and press briefings.