The chair of the upcoming UN climate conference is urging nations to remain focused on climate change and not allow the war in Ukraine to distract attention away from the issue.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry made the remark during an interview with NHK in Cairo on Monday.

He is set to chair the COP27 climate change conference. The meeting will be held in the eastern Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. It begins on November 6.

Shoukry expressed concerns about floods and heatwaves that have dealt heavy blows to countries everywhere, especially in the developing world.

The minister said the main aim of the conference is to find ways to reduce the impact that climate change is having on ordinary people.

The chair referred to the turmoil in Ukraine. He said the worsening situation is affecting all multilateral systems. He said that is putting at risk the ability to find compromises and reach consensuses on ways to deal with climate change.

He added that he does not want geopolitical tensions to spill over into the COP conference. He said all countries must remain focused on the issue of climate change.

He went on to say that the international community must remain united, as the existence of the whole world is at stake.