High Hopes For Climate And Energy Outcomes At Summit As India Takes Lead

Relevance: GS3 - Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment GS2 - Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

(Source: The Hindu, 09/08/2023)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, experts claimed that it was necessary to build consensus on multilateral development bank reforms and reducing the use of fossil fuels at the G-20 summit in New Delhi.
• A consensus at the New Delhi summit would enhance India’s global leadership role.

G-20 and climate change

• The G-20 countries account for 85% of the global GDP and 80% of the global emissions.
• The meeting of Energy and Climate Ministers’ meetings in July were not able to reach a consensus on serious concerns regarding the limiting of global warming to below 1.5°C such as:
• Phasing down on the unabated use of fossil fuels,
• Tripling renewable energy capacity to 11 terawatts by 2030
• Providing low-cost financing to developing countries
• As President of the G-20, India is hopeful of reaching an agreement and unified response to challenges such as multilateral development bank reform and the energy transition.
• In the absence of an agreement with other members, experts claim that governments could backslide on the commitments made at the Bali summit, 2022.

Opposition

• The main opposition to the proposal to phase out fossil fuels is from Saudi Arabia.
• Sultan Al Jaber, the President of COP 28, the phase-down of fossil fuels is dependent on a substantial increase in renewable energy capacity worldwide.
  • In May, more than 100 US and European lawmakers appealed to their country’s leaders and the United Nations to remove Sultan Al Jaber as he was the head of ADNOC, which is expanding the production of fuel.
• The G-7 had earlier committed to the accelerated phase-out of fossil fuels.
• Therefore, despite India’s commitment to technology, hydrogen, blue economy, and circular economy, it is unlikely that there will be any additional commitments on fossil fuels than what was agreed in Bali due to the lack of unity.

What is the significance of the G-20 in terms of climate change mitigation?

• The G-20 has previously recognized the importance of adopting a collective approach to tackling environmental challenges and climate change through a transition to flexible, transparent, and cleaner energy systems.
• The G-20 is a diverse grouping with its members spanning from India - the lowest emitter to the U.S.A. - the highest emitter.
  • Its membership includes many climate-vulnerable countries.
• Therefore, any global targets that are established at the G-20 must account for this difference in capacities and the varied national circumstances (economy-wide reduction targets).
• India will have to consider the needs of the Global South on climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building while simultaneously convincing the Global North to fulfill its commitments.
• Achievements at the G-20 Summit 2023 will highlight the potential for international cooperation among policymakers, corporations, and financiers to address climate and environmental concerns.

Progress made

• In August 2023, the Meeting of the Environment & Climate Ministers produced an outcome document and chair’s summary.
  • It covered themes such as land and biodiversity enrichment, water, ocean-based economy, and circular economy.
• Land and biodiversity enrichment: The countries reached a consensus on the swift, full, and effective implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) to restore both land and ocean ecosystems.
• Plastic pollution: They also expressed the need to end plastic pollution and emphasized the role of forests in sustaining livelihoods while prioritizing biodiversity-rich locations including those affected by forest fires and mining.
• Ocean-based economy: In recognition of the urgency to protect the world’s ocean ecosystems countries accepted the Chennai High-Level Principles on blue/ocean-based economy.
• Climate finance: The countries recognized the need to accelerate climate action and the need for more ambitious nationally determined contributions, including the mobilization of $100 billion in climate finance annually from developed to developing economies.
  • Modern science must be utilized in order to ensure effective climate action and policymaking.
  • The members also agreed to conduct a successful global stocktake during the upcoming COP28 in Dubai.
• Environment partnerships: The private sector should be encouraged to explore partnerships for sharing best practices and innovative financing instruments.
  • These include blended finance for circular economies and advocacy.
  • India’s Presidency has acknowledged the importance of the restoration of areas degraded by forest fires and mining and the need for citizen participation in mass cleanup initiatives.
• Collaboration for climate action: Global cooperation has been accepted as an integral component of combating climate change.

Way forward

• Multilateral development reforms: MDBs, IFIs, and multilateral funds must consolidate their efforts towards supporting climate change mitigation by setting ambitious adaptation finance targets and encouraging private sector participation.
• Global stocktake: The global stocktake, supported by the G-20 should focus on developing a solution-oriented global plan based on national circumstances to protect the global budget.
• Coordination: Establish an accelerator platform that enables collaboration among nodal land and biodiversity institutions, climate and environment funds, and government on restoration.
• In order to implement these proposals, it is necessary to build consensus among members and develop a united front to tackle climate change.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: Consider the following statements:

1. The Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique initiative of the G-20 group of countries.
2. The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Question: Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now" is an initiative launched by (UPSC CSE 2015)

(a) The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

(b) The UNEP Secretariat

(c) The UNFCCC Secretariat

(d) The World Meteorological Organisation