NEW DELHI: G20 environment ministers gathered in India on Thursday to make a renewed effort to strike deals addressing climate change, following recent criticism for failing to agree on cutting fossil fuel use. The ministers from the world’s major economies, accounting for over 80 percent of global GDP and CO2 emissions, are focusing on critical topics such as climate change adaptation finance, biodiversity, and principles for ocean-based economic activities.
The agreements reached during the one-day conference will be presented for approval by G20 leaders at a summit scheduled in New Delhi in September. With global temperatures reaching record highs, causing floods, storms, and heatwaves, the urgency for climate action is at the forefront of discussions.
“The livelihoods of people are being destroyed,” said EU Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevicius. He pointed to the “growing evidence on the ground of devastating climate impact,” including raging wildfires in Greece and Sicily. Sinkevicius emphasized the need for reforms to enhance people’s resilience, underlining the importance of basing decisions on scientific evidence.
Efforts to Mitigate Climate Change Impact
The G20 energy ministers’ failure to agree on a roadmap to cut fossil fuel use during a meeting in Goa on July 22 was met with dismay by campaigners worldwide. This setback was seen as a blow to efforts to mitigate climate change and a win for major oil producers resisting a swift transition from fossil fuels.
The polarized group faces challenges due to geopolitical tensions, and many are becoming impatient with the slow progress in implementing climate actions since the 2015 Paris Agreement. Calls for greater finance to offset the impact of global warming on developing countries, particularly on sectors like agriculture and energy, are pressing demands that must be addressed.
The ongoing conference in Chennai brings together key stakeholders, including Sultan Al Jaber, president of the upcoming COP28 climate summit and head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The gathering aims to advance climate negotiations and ensure concrete steps are taken to fulfill the commitments made in the Paris Agreement.
