Climate, tech, energy and smart city: the points of the Naples agreement (halfway)

by time news

The G20 in Naples confirms the commitments of the Paris Agreement with the common goal of keeping the temperature increase below 2 degrees and continuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels. It also reaffirms the goal of a financial contribution for developing countries of 60 to billions. A light on the energy transition with a clear commitment to cooperation in the use and diffusion of renewable technologies, necessary for the transition and an essential tool. These are some of the central points of the final document signed by the Ministerial Energy and Climate at the end of the G20 in Naples. It is the summary of the expected declaration in 60 articles that postpones the most binding commitments to confrontation with the heads of state and government.

ACTIONS AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

The commitments of the Paris Agreement are reaffirmed as the binding beacon that will lead to Glasgow, where COP 26 will take place in November. The common objective is to keep the temperature well below 2 degrees and to continue the efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The G20 countries agree to increase aid to developing countries so that no one is left behind. The role of the 100 billion financial commitment remains central, as foreseen by the Paris Agreement, with the commitment to increase contributions every year until 2025. And a role, for the increase of these funds, and ‘in particular to development financial institutions and multilateral banks. The transition is necessary and indispensable, but it must be just, and ensure support and solidarity for the most fragile categories and countries. The role of climate change in the loss of biodiversity is unanimously recognized.

TRANSITION TOWARDS CLEAN ENERGY

All countries are active in the total energy transition, using the 2 billion dollars of the resources of the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs). The great potential of offshore renewables, ocean energy and the possibility of implementing this type of technology is underlined. Energy efficiency plays a key role in reducing greenhouse gases and promoting sustainable economic growth. It is appropriate to act on efficiency, sustainable production and consumption models and circularity, aware that no single fuel or technology alone can allow the entire energy sector to reduce GHG emissions. Hydrogen is the cornerstone of the energy economy of the future, with a view to reducing emissions, especially in sectors that are difficult to reduce. We recognize the need to continue investing in renewable technologies, together with the reduction of the use of methane, and to proceed quickly towards the reduction of energy poverty. It is recognized that affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy systems are essential to protect our planet and its people. Furthermore, the importance of efforts is underlined by exploring the widest variety of options according to national contexts in order to achieve ambitious and realistic green energy transitions, while ensuring a stable energy supply. We reaffirm our commitment to reduce emissions in the energy sector and are committed to doing so further through cooperation on the use and dissemination of clean technologies. Russia and China have also pledged to phase out non-stop coal power generation. Energy efficiency is a crucial factor in clean energy transitions and economic growth, which is why the G20 is committed to increasing multilateral initiatives that already exist worldwide.

ALIGNMENT TO PARIS FINANCIAL FLOWS

Central importance is given to orienting the financial and economic efforts of the G20 countries towards the objectives of the Paris Agreement, taking into account the efforts to eradicate poverty, towards a just and inclusive transition. The alignment of financial flows and recovery efforts with the objectives of the Paris Agreement can in fact represent an opportunity for economic growth by facilitating investments to increase the adoption of solutions already available, including generation of renewable energy and low-emission technologies. To this end, the need to make better use of the full range of levers and policy tools available, including the various packages adopted for recovery from COVID19, is recognized. Adaptation and resilience strategies can be further integrated into national and international financial flows including through the mobilization of additional public and private resources. In this sense, the importance of guaranteeing the consideration of current and future climate risks in all investment and political agendas, towards the development of global reporting standards, is recognized.

SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE RECOVERY

It has been recognized that recovery measures in line with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals have the potential to take us beyond the traditional approach, increase global economic and social resilience and thus lead us on the road to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. In this sense, the introduction of sustainable policies, tools and technologies can enable substantial progress towards the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and for a future resilient to climate change, which guarantees and provides both a boost to social well-being and growth. and sustainable economic development. While recognizing the need to continue to prioritize efforts to deal with Covid-19, the G20 are committed to allocating an ambitious share of funds for national recovery and resilience plans to mitigate and adapt to climate change. It is also recommended to make the best use of recovery plans to stimulate and reduce the risks of investment in the private sector, including through the promotion of joint public-private financing instruments and public-private partnerships, in order to simultaneously stimulate growth. economic, create jobs, enhance women, young people and marginalized categories. The G20 also stress the importance of building an effective preventive assessment of recovery measures at national level and sharing the best experiences, political and structural, in order to promote a lasting and sustainable recovery.

THE TECHNOLOGICAL LEVER

The G20s recognize the key role that well-designed national recovery packages play in guiding short-term actions (NDCs) and in defining and supporting long-term strategies (LTS) for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, leveraging also on the opportunities offered by innovative and cutting-edge technologies.

INNOVATION, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Innovation and R&D not only play a key role for the future but for the G20 it is necessary to increase their levels, both in the public and private sectors, also on the basis of international collaborations. Research and education will be promoted towards improved technologies, training programs and dissemination to disseminate climate science and related policies, increase awareness, participation and public access to information. Part of the R&D investments should be aimed specifically at increasing innovative solutions for a better sustainable energy mix, for energy efficiency, sustainable production and consumption models and new business models. Providing the possibility of fiscal policies and subsidies that promote investments towards sustainable innovation and targeted projects that take into account both economic, social and environmental aspects.

SMART CITY

Cities are particularly vulnerable to climate change and, at the same time, they can be very important actors in mitigation actions. For this reason, government actions that contemplate active and continuous collaboration with cities and metropolitan areas are favored and encouraged. In this key, bottom-up initiatives such as the Global Covenant of Mayors, the C40, are important. The importance of living in harmony with nature, building resilience and accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is also recognized. In the field of mobility, the urgent need to promote sustainable and convenient mobility, including all related infrastructures, is reaffirmed, taking into account the analysis of the entire life cycle to achieve the long-term objective of the Agreement. Paris. Continuous progress is encouraged in the extensive use and investment of digital technologies in urban conglomerates, for system integration of variable renewable energy, including energy storage, smart grids, virtual power plants, management of supply and demand management, as well as the role of hydroelectric energy and modern bioenergy for the stability of the system and the interaction and coordination between energy source-grid-storage-load. Local sustainable distributed generation and energy communities are supported as concrete means to facilitate accessibility, reliability, profitability, accessibility and sustainability of energy. Efforts to improve the quantification and monitoring of nature-based solutions in order to inform planning decisions, sustainable financial and business models, as appropriate, are welcomed.

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