While G20 support is welcomed, environmental NGOs condemn mixed messaging on energy transition
11/20/2024
The G20 leaders’ final communiqué was met with cautious approval at COP29 in Baku. However, it drew criticism from environmental organizations for lacking a clear and explicit commitment to phasing out fossil fuels—a pledge agreed upon at COP28 in Dubai in 2023.
While the communiqué reaffirms commitments from COP28 and the Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement, including the pledge to transition away from fossil fuels, this language was notably absent in the declaration.
Instead, the G20 emphasized goals to triple renewable energy production and double energy efficiency by 2030. “They avoided explicitly mentioning the ‘transition away from fossil fuels’ because of opposition from Saudi Arabia and Russia,” explained David Waskow, director of WRI’s international climate initiative.
Analysts at climate think tank E3G observed contradictory signals in the G20’s approach to the fossil fuel transition.
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Notably, the communiqué omitted language on the gradual reduction of coal use, which had been included under the last two G20 presidencies. “But G20 leaders cannot ignore the reality: renewable energies are growing, and coal, oil, and gas have their days numbered,” E3G stated in its analysis.
However, the commitment to present updated climate targets (NDCs) for the post-2026 period, covering all economic sectors and greenhouse gases, received positive feedback in Baku. These new NDCs aim to align with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
Brazil faced sharp criticism for its energy policies. “Meanwhile, Brazil has signed a deal to import shale gas from Vaca Muerta in Argentina, sending the wrong signal on the energy transition from the COP30 Presidency back to Baku,” E3G remarked.
“The G20 communiqué marks critical progress amid a turbulent geopolitical landscape,” said Gustavo Pinheiro, senior associate at E3G. “Under Brazil’s presidency, the G20 sent strong signals to energize the COP30 pathway, advance an agreement on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), and increase adaptation efforts. However, the failure to reach a consensus on the transition away from fossil fuels casts a shadow over the urgency needed to tackle the main driver of global warming.”
“I see the finance part as positive. The G20 countries are signaling their support for COP29 to achieve an outcome on the NCQG and are addressing the scale of financial needs. They also mention international collaboration, which is something new,” Mr. Waskow said.
Another highlight of COP29 in Baku was the widespread approval of the declaration’s call to reform Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to unlock large-scale climate finance. “The G20 sent a message to the world that multilateralism is not dead. Despite a tense global geopolitical environment, the largest economies agreed that it’s time to take a serious look at climate finance in developing countries,” said Raíssa Ferreira, campaigns director for Greenpeace Brasil.
The Brazilian presidency carefully coordinated the timing of the G20 leaders’ meeting and COP29, emphasizing their interconnectedness while recognizing their distinct differences. The G20 comprises the world’s 20 largest economies, along with the European and African Unions, and its outcomes are captured in a political declaration. In contrast, COP29 brought together delegations from 195 nations, each with equal rights to voice opinions and veto proposals, culminating in a multilateral agreement.
Maiara Folly, from Plataforma Cipó, stressed the significance of the G20’s alignment on climate issues. “In terms of process, it was important for the G20 as a whole to unite in favor of the climate agenda,” she said.
Meanwhile, at Baku’s Olympic Stadium, negotiations on climate finance remained at the center of discussions. Key points under negotiation included the definition of climate finance, the annual funding figure required to support global decarbonization, the division of financial responsibilities between public and private sectors, and the accessibility of funds to developing economies. These closed-door negotiations are seen as the primary deliverable of COP29 and represent the greatest area of contention.
The journalist traveled to COP29 at the invitation of the Institute for Climate and Society (iCS).
*By Daniela Chiaretti — Baku
Source: Valor International