The recent climate and environment ministers’ meeting of the world’s largest economies concluded without an agreement or joint statement. This is despite calls from prominent figures for nations to present a united front in tackling climate change, especially as extreme weather events continue to occur worldwide.
The gathering took place in Chennai, India, and included ministers from the Group of 20 (G20) countries, which collectively emit around 80% of the planet-warming gases. Unfortunately, they were unable to find consensus on four out of 68 points of discussion.
One particular point of contention was the aim to peak emissions by 2025 and transition to clean energy, as well as implementing a carbon tax to reduce emissions. Canada’s climate minister, Steven Guilbeault, acknowledged the lack of consensus but emphasized that progress was made on other fronts.
The decisions made by the ministers will now be passed on to country leaders ahead of a summit in New Delhi in September. This summit represents the G20’s final opportunity this year to issue a joint statement on climate.
In their efforts to reach an ambitious statement, the meeting was attended by the president of the upcoming United Nations climate talks, Sultan al-Jaber, and the U.N. climate chief, Simon Stiell. Their aim was to urge countries to take decisive action to keep global warming within the agreed temperature limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
It’s essential to address climate change urgently, as the world has already warmed by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius (2.2 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times. The effects of this warming are already evident worldwide, with India being especially vulnerable. The country has experienced heatwaves and landslides resulting in numerous fatalities.
While India holds the G20 presidency, none of the meetings held thus far have resulted in a joint communique. However, the announcements made during these meetings may contribute to a final document released at the leaders’ summit in September.
It’s worth noting that previous G20 meetings on finance and energy also failed to reach consensus on key issues. The differences between countries, such as the conflict in Ukraine, have hindered progress in these discussions.
The recent meeting in Chennai marked the conclusion of the four G20 climate ministers’ gatherings, which took place in Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, and Mumbai. These meetings were aimed at addressing various policy areas of importance.
In conclusion, while the climate and environment ministers’ meeting did not yield the desired outcome of an agreement or joint statement, it is crucial for countries to continue striving for consensus and taking decisive action to combat climate change. The upcoming leaders’ summit in September will be a crucial moment for nations to collectively address this urgent global issue.
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