Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, will once again be top of the global map when it hosts COP27, 7-18 November 2022. I was reminded of the destination’s history when looking a mere two kilometres across the so-blue Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran, a catalyst for the Six Days War in 1967. Today the sovereignty of the 80 sq km Tiran Island, seemingly guarding the area, is overseen by Saudi Arabia.