Stakeholders Bemoan G20 Summit’s Failure to Heed Calls to Phase-Out Fossil Fuels

By Yemi Olakitan

There were reportedly no bold proposals to equitably phase out fossil fuels at the G20 summit’s conclusion.

Despite admitting that action on the climate catastrophe is necessary, G20 leaders have been charged with failing to turn their words into concrete results or deeds.

A group of climate activists pointed out that the claimed lack of leadership has been made worse by geopolitical conflict after the Statement from Leaders was released in New Delhi, India, on Saturday, September 9, 2023.

The activists stated: “An inadequate commitment by rich countries in the G20 also results from the fact that they continue to subsidise and support the expansion of fossil fuels, perpetuating dependence on them and impeding a just, sustainable, and equitable transition to greener options despite having the financial resources to do so. While it is laudable that governments have pledged to increase their ambition in order to triple renewable energy by 2030, the transition must take place in tandem with the swift phase-out of fossil fuels and be done in a fair and equitable manner.

“While the G20 may have failed to reverse course on calling for the phase-out of fossil fuels, this month’s Climate Ambition Summit, which is supported by the UN Secretary General, gives world leaders the chance to be bold and demonstrate political commitment. Fossil fuels cannot be sustained, according to the scientists. They were responsible for an amazing 86% of CO2 emissions during the past ten years, and since the world is currently experiencing an irreversible climate disaster, all fossil fuels must be phased out quickly, fairly, equitably, and permanently. Wealthy nations must keep their promises by contributing financially to a just transition in developing nations since they hold an unfair amount of historical blame.

“Continued reliance on fossil fuels remains a primary driver of climate change, carrying dire and irreversible consequences for ecosystems, communities, and the global economy,” said Alex Rafalowicz, Director of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty campaign.

It is intolerable that the G20 has not produced any significant plans for the phase-out of fossil fuels. Leaders from wealthy nations in particular must step up to the plate and shoulder their fair share of the burden in the fight against the climate issue. Anything less would be an insult to both people and the environment.

International collaboration should concentrate on addressing the urgent climate problem supported by ambitious calls for a phase-out of fossil fuels and a just and equitable transition as we approach the Climate Ambition Summit this month and the COP28 summit in November.

“The G20 countries, who collectively account for over 80% of global emissions, have once again demonstrated that they are not serious about addressing the climate emergency,” claims Tasneem Essop, Executive Director of Climate Action Network International.

Fossil fuels, which are the primary contributors to the global catastrophe but are not even mentioned in the declaration, have not been addressed.

Despite the recent catastrophic climate consequences seen all over the world and the most recent UN report revealing a huge gap in the implementation of the Paris Agreement targets, this demonstrates hazardous backsliding.

“Ahead of COP28, rich states in particular within the group should be setting a higher standard and leading by example. Next weekend’s global mobilisations for the Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels will draw attention to this reprehensible lack of leadership. It is time for the public to organise and demand answers from these leaders.

While the G20’s commitment to renewable energy targets is good, Harjeet Singh, Head of worldwide Political Strategy, Climate Action Network International, adds that it ignores the core problem, which is our worldwide reliance on fossil fuels.

The globe calls out for a just transition away from fossil fuels as the climate problem hangs over humanity like a heavy cloud. Along with failing to reduce their own emissions, wealthy countries in this group of advanced economies have also fallen short in providing financial support for poorer nations’ environmental projects.

It is time for these countries to set an example, follow through on their commitments, and work towards a more sustainable and fair future for all.

The inclusion of the African Union in the G20 has long been discussed, so it’s fantastic to see it finally happening, according to Mohamed Adow, Director of Power Shift Africa.

Adding nations that are at the forefront of the climate catastrophe will hopefully give the G20’s response to climate change more urgency and better quality. The G20 has been dragging its feet on climate change for far too long, making promises but doing nothing to keep them.

African leaders must hold the G20’s polluters accountable and transform the organisation into one that takes the initiative on climate action.

“In a clear victory for fossil fuel producing nations, the New Delhi Leader’s Summit Declaration adopted by G20 nations fails to mention timelines for the phase-out of fossil fuels even as it refers to ‘pursuing and encouraging efforts to triple renewable energy capacity through existing targets and policies’ and reaffirms its ‘commitment to tackle climate change by strengthening the full and effective implementation of existing targets and policies,'” says Sanjay Vashist, Director of Climate Action Network South Asia.

Sadly, despite its excellent intentions, the New Delhi Declaration falls short of compelling nations to take transformative action, and once again, global ambition and implementation to address climate change remain insufficient.

Speaking on behalf of Oxfam at the G20, Ashfaq Khalfan said that the leaders left the summit with no changes to their pledges to keep their emissions at levels that are at least double what they ought to be by 2030. They want to triple the amount of renewable energy produced, but they don’t want to exceed current goals and regulations! The G20’s wealthier nations have an option. The first is a climatic catastrophe.

“On the other hand, to dramatically cut their emissions and offer the Global South enough amounts of climate funding. They choose disaster and depart New Delhi. Through greater taxes on the mega-wealthy and taxes on the enormous windfall profits in the fossil fuel, food, and other industries, G20 members could raise $2.1 trillion yearly.

The G20’s pledge to triple renewable energy is a historic move and a glimpse of hope in our fight against climate calamity, according to Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns for 350.org.

By 2030, renewable energy might have tripled, which might put us back on a path to keep global warming to 1.5C. But let’s hold off on the party just yet. We must hold them responsible, insist that they phase out fossil fuels, and take immediate action. The burden of duty and financial support must fall mostly on the wealthy countries if we are to fulfil our pledge to triple renewable energy by 2030.

Gaa Febvre, International Policy Coordinator Réseau Action Climat France: “Promoting the phase-in of renewable energy and setting targets is a positive step, but it falls short of safeguarding our planet for the present and future generations without a clear, comprehensive, and irreversible phase-out plan for fossil fuels.

In addition to prioritising the use of renewable energy with a well-thought-out plan, we must completely stop relying on fossil fuels as soon as possible.

The promises to clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency are rife with gaps, according to Dr. Stephan Singer, Climate Science and Energy Policy Advisor for CAN International. If done correctly, tripling the capacity of renewable energy by 2030 is a significant advancement.

What happens after 2030? What the baselines are, the precise procedure for setting national targets for nations to attain this global goal, and how any transparent monitoring, evaluation, and assessment of these targets could be carried out and by whom are all unknowns.

“It is quite unclear how the approximately $1 trillion in public funding annually required for a 1.5 C route for the globe to be achieved by affluent OECD nations could be provided for poor developing countries to switch to clean energy. G20 trimmed its tongue but neglected to whistle.

“G20 leaders acknowledged a gap in climate action to date and the harsh toll of worsening climate impacts around the world,” says Rachel Cleetus, policy director for the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Climate and Energy Programme.

Although they have expressed support for ambitious global goals for renewable energy and energy efficiency, the final product’s flimsy language does not guarantee that these targets will be realised.

This G20 result is grossly insufficient in light of the recently issued U.N. Global Stocktake report, which demonstrates that countries are falling well short of reaching global climate goals.

To assure significant reductions in heat-trapping emissions by 2030 that are in line with the most recent scientific findings, major emitting nations have a responsibility to explicitly and firmly commit to a quick scale-up of clean energy investments and a sharp reduction in fossil fuel use.

To aid low- and middle-income countries in making this transition in an equitable manner, there must also be a considerable increase in financial support from richer nations, such as the United States.

“The G20 has allowed a country like Australia to continue to avoid international scrutiny for our role in fossil fuel extraction,” said Glen Klatovsky, CEO of Climate Action Network Australia.

Australia is one of the two largest exporters of coal and LNG, continues to approve new coal mines, and ranks among the top emitters of greenhouse gases per person on the planet.

There is no call for action in today’s Leaders statement, despite the fact that every G20 leader is aware of how critical the need to abandon fossil fuels is. For the benefit of all of us, the G20 leaders should urge that Australia make the swift change right away.