At Delhi Summit, Demonstrate Climate Leadership

Relevance: GS 2- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests, Important International institutions, agencies and fora- their structure, mandate GS3 - Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

(Source: The Hindu, 08/29/2023)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, G-20 members have begun to transition towards clean energy with the share of renewable energy sources in their energy mix increasing from 19% in 2010 to 29% in 2021.
• This article discusses the role of the G-20 in climate leadership and the need for member states to display a united front in tackling climate change.

Why must the G-20 demonstrate climate leadership?

• The G-20 members emit the majority of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and are responsible for producing the bulk of its fossil fuels.
• Although the G-20 countries have pledged to be “net-zero” and cut back on emissions and use of conventional fuels, there is a lack of collective action.
• The members of the G-20 must act as a united group with a common climate strategy based on collaboration, coordination, and competition.
• The G-20 summit in New Delhi (September 9-10) can be used to establish a framework or model which can also be used at the upcoming UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP28.

India as host

• India has become the world’s third-largest producer of renewable energy and has continued to set targets to expand installed renewables in the country.
  • Renewable energy is expected to account for 50% of energy production by 2030.
• However, it is necessary to accelerate the transition process due to the increase in demand for conventional energy across the globe and the subsequent decrease in the global carbon budget.

India’s Updated NDCs

• In 2022, the Union Cabinet approved the country’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
  • It is projected to aid India in establishing low emissions growth pathways.
• Reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 from 2005 level
• Achieve 50% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030
• Encourage sustainable living based on traditions, conservation, and moderation.

To know more about India’s updated NDCs, click the link.

What should the G-20’s focus areas be?

Ensure clear governance structures

• Improve governance processes at national and local levels to ensure a just energy transition.
• Clear governance structures will contribute to inclusiveness, and equitable outcomes, and prevent siloed operations in the transition process.
  • Developing concrete frameworks, road maps, or action plans will improve outcomes.
  • Eg: Clarifying the responsibilities and mandates of different ministries will ensure coherent delivery plans and attract investment
• Instead of relying solely on traditional metrics such as net job creation, diversity of manufacturing, and regional economic growth, governments should consider more relevant criteria such as the kinds of jobs created, who has access to these jobs, and the levels of resilience and innovation displayed by the larger community.
• Establish a multi-ministerial task force or joint working groups between government and non-government actors to coordinate just energy transition efforts.
  • Eg: South Africa has developed a just transition framework led by the Presidential Climate Commission (PCC).

Aiding decarbonisation

• The G-20 should recognize that the energy transition is an avenue to diversify the economies of the member states in order to achieve long-term stability.
• International financial institutions can play a pivotal role by directing investments toward renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency, and low-carbon industrial technologies by realigning their investments and risk-taking models.
• A crucial aspect is advancing low-carbon steel production globally, an area where G-20's significant steel production and consumption can drive change.
  • The G-20 countries represent 90% of global steel production and 80% of consumption.
• Clear mandates for multilateral development banks and international climate finance can drive the green steel transition within developing and emerging economies.
• A collective commitment by the G-20 to Green Public Procurement would accelerate the decarbonization of sectors such as steel and cement.
• However, this would require extensive collaboration among G-20 nations as public purchasing has to be reformed, with new and clear mandates for low-carbon procurement, upskilling of procurement officers, and the setting of time-bound targets to harness the full potential of Green Public Procurement.

Need for transparency

• The G-20 can initiate disclosure mechanisms for energy transition-related data through existing platforms which will help streamline international efforts.
  • E.g.: G-20 Energy Transitions and Sustainable Finance Working Groups, and the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JET-Ps).
• Fossil fuel-producing nations must be encouraged to align their projects with national and international climate goals and share information about them.

Unifying for Collective Climate Leadership

• Climate change demands collaborative action immediately due to the urgency associated with the challenge.
• The G-20 must take a lead role in the three areas of action - governance for just transitions, economic diversification, and enhanced transparency - to ensure a just, inclusive, and sustainable future where no country is left behind.
• The G-20 Energy Transition Ministers’ meeting, which was held in July 2023, called for “Just, Affordable, and Inclusive Energy Transition Pathways”.
  • However, this requires the members of the G-20 to cooperate, collaborate, and coordinate towards achieving the goals of net-zero ambitions, while competing to achieve them.

Conclusion

The G-20 summit in New Delhi is a crucial opportunity to adopt a strong leader’s declaration that commits to combat climate change through collective action.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017.
2. The Agreement aims to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2°C or even 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility for global warming and committed to donate $1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries cope with climate change.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question: The term ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ is sometimes seen in the news in the context of

(a) pledges made by the European countries to rehabilitate refugees from the war-affected Middle East

(b) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world to combat climate change

(c) capital contributed by the member countries in the establishment of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

(d) plan of action outlined by the countries of the world regarding Sustainable Development Goals