G20 - Greenpeace Underwhelmed by Statement

 The G20 summit in Rome have agreed that countries must take meaningful action to keep the world from warming by no more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, but are facing criticism for offering few concrete commitments in order to reach the target.

The final communique did not include a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The G20 leaders instead agreed to wording that underlines the importance of reaching net zero by or around the middle of the century, phrasing that meets the positions of China and Saudi Arabia. A reference in an earlier draft to reducing carbon emissions significantly, which Turkey had opposed, was removed in favour of a phrase saying a reduction in fossil fuel use is “one of the most feasible, efficient and quickest ways to limit climate change”. In terms of domestic coal use, the statement contains only a vague pledge to support those countries that commit to “phasing out investment in new unabated coal power-generation capacity to do so as soon as possible”.

Greenpeace condemned the statement as weak and “lacking ambition and vision”, and said G20 leaders had “failed to meet the moment” before the Cop26 climate conference.

“If the G20 was a dress rehearsal for Cop26, then world leaders fluffed their lines,” said its executive director, Jennifer Morgan.

 UN secretary general, António Guterres, said: “While I welcome the G20’s commitment to global solutions, I leave Rome with my hopes unfulfilled but at least not buried forever.”