- These 20 countries account for 80 per cent of global emissions, so this renewable energy declaration signals climate progress.
- The G20 countries are home to 93 per cent of global operating coal power plants and 88 per cent of new proposed coal power plants that don’t have carbon capture technologies.
The Group of 20 leaders have agreed to triple renewable energy and increase the funds for climate change-related disasters. However, the leaders maintained the status quo regarding phasing out carbon-spewing coal.
Global leaders and climate experts say the declaration has taken the conversation forward. It sets the stage for an ambitious climate agreement during the global climate conference, COP28, in Dubai later this year. The presiding officer of the COP28, Sultan al-Jaber, said these 20 countries account for 80 per cent of global emissions, so this declaration sends a powerful signal for climate progress.
Also, a climate activist from Climate Action Network International, Harjeet Singh, said more could be done. He added that while the G20’s commitment to renewable energy targets is commendable, it sidesteps the root cause, which is the global dependency on fossil fuels. “It’s high time for rich nations in this group to lead by example, turn their promises into actions, and help forge a greener, more equitable future for all,” Singh added.
According to a report by Global Energy Monitor, the G20 countries are home to 93 per cent of global operating coal power plants and 88 per cent of new proposed coal power plants that don’t have carbon capture technologies.
A senior Indian government official leading some of the G20 negotiations, Amitabh Kant, at a news conference, said the announcement is probably the most vibrant, dynamic and ambitious document on climate action. Most climate and energy experts agreed that the G20 leaders had put out a strong message on climate action, even as the world sees increasingly frequent natural disasters such as extreme heat.