Climate warning
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G20

Climate warning

failing to agree on cutting fossil fuels


Disagreements include the intended tripling of renewable energy capacities by 2030
THE Group of 20 (G20) major economies meeting in India failed on Saturday (22) to reach consensus on phasing down fossil fuels following objections by some producer nations.

Scientists and campaigners are exasperated by international bodies’ foot-dragging on action to curb global warming even as extreme weather from China to the United States underlines the climate crisis facing the world.

The G20 member countries together account for over three-quarters of global emissions and gross domestic product, and a cumulative effort by the group to decarbonise is crucial in the global fight against climate change.

However, disagreements including the intended tripling of renewable energy capacities by 2030 resulted in officials issuing an outcome statement and a chair summary instead of a joint communique at the end of their four-day meeting in Bambolim, in the Indian coastal state of Goa.

A joint communique is issued when there is complete agreement between member nations on all issues.

“We had a complete agreement on 22 out of 29 paragraphs, and seven paragraphs constitute the Chair summary,” Indian Power Minister RK Singh said.

Sections urging developed countries to deliver on the goal of jointly mobilising $100 billion per year for climate action in developing economies from 2020-2025, and description of the war in Ukraine, also eluded consensus.

Fossil fuel use became a lightning rod in day-long discussions, but officials failed to reach consensus over curbing “unabated” use and argued over the language to describe the pathway to cut emissions, two sources familiar with the matter said.

A draft late on Friday (21) read: “The importance of making efforts towards phase down of unabated fossil fuels, in line with different national circumstances, was emphasized.”

However, the chair statement released on Saturday evening included concerns from some member nations which were missing in the Friday draft, noting that “others had different views on the matter that abatement and removal technologies will address such concerns”.

Singh, in a press briefing after the conference, said some countries wanted to use carbon capture instead of a phase down of fossil fuels. He did not name the countries.

Major fossil fuel producers Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, South Africa and Indonesia are all known to oppose the goal of tripling renewable energy capacity this decade.



Do you agree?

16 more agrees trigger social media ads

  • Ajema Lydiah

    80 w

    saddening,we are trying to end fossil yet they are debating

    7
    • Rukia Ahmed Abdi

      80 w

      we need to priotise ending fossil fuels. The hypocrisy should stop

      8
      • johnte ndeto

        80 w

        And especially when it benefits a few at the expense of climate conservation

        8
        • john linus Tom

          80 w

          Too bad to hear this, we need to act immediately to stop fossil fuels.

          10
          • winnie nguru

            80 w

            People who only have their eyes on the amount of money they stand to lose would never agree on cutting fossil fuels

            11
            • Elizabeth Gathigia

              80 w

              @winnie_nguru They are greedy and selfish!

              6
            • Princess

              80 w

              This is so wrong, as these impacts grow in frequency and severity, they will and in many cases already have create crisis for people and nature around the world. 

              7
              • Sarah Chabane

                80 w

                Not too surprising considering Russia and Saudi Arabia are sitting at that table

                10
                • Princess

                  80 w

                  Fossil Fuels are Nonrenewable. Non-renewable energy resources are estimated to deplete in the near future. ..the burning of fossil fuels is the main source of greenhouse gas emissions causing global warming and ocean acidification. 

                  6
                  • Jengaj John

                    80 w

                    Fossil fuels are our biggest threat to the planet.

                    17
                    • Andy Middleton

                      81 w

                      Thx for your reply, although I have no idea what you mean. Comment is a sarcastic historical comparison of the behavior of the leaders of the planet, now to well-known Roman emperor. I think it’s an appropriate comparison, given the gravity of the situation, and the unwillingness of our elected leaders, to actually identify the problem, which is burning fossil fuels, and even say the words out loud.

                      7
                      • Andy Middleton

                        81 w

                        Fools fiddling while the world burns

                        18

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