The leaders of the G20 summit countries have recognized the “key importance” of achieving global zero greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of the 21st century. This is stated in the text of the final communiqué, agreed on Sunday, October 31st. However, the document contains few specific commitments. In addition, the participants in the meeting did not set a clear timetable for achieving global carbon neutrality.
While the United States and the European Union previously set a goal of achieving zero emissions by 2050, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia aim to achieve carbon neutrality only by 2060. The leaders of these three countries were not personally present at the meeting in Rome.
No specific date to stop using coal
Summit participants said that national action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will need to be finalized “if necessary.” They also pledged to stop financing the production of electricity at coal-fired power plants abroad by the end of this year, but the leaders did not name a specific date for phasing out the use of coal, promising to do so “as soon as possible.”
The G20 countries have called for “meaningful and effective” measures to limit global warming to around 1.5 degrees Celsius. “We recognize that the impacts of climate change at 1.5 degrees Celsius are much lower than at 2 degrees. Ed.) at 1.5 degrees will require meaningful and effective action and commitment from all countries, “the communiqué says.
UN experts, meanwhile, warn that unless the level of greenhouse gas emissions in the world is drastically reduced, by the end of the 21st century, the average temperature on the planet will rise by 2.7 degrees Celsius, which will be a disaster in terms of climate.
Universal access to COVID-19 vaccines
In addition to climate issues, the leaders of the G20 countries discussed the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic and the uneven distribution of vaccines in the world. In a final communiqué, meeting participants pledged to ensure “timely, equitable and universal access” to vaccines. Thus, they want to help achieve the goal of the World Health Organization (WHO) to vaccinate at least 40 percent of the population against coronavirus in all countries by the end of 2021 and 70 percent by mid-2022.
So far, rich countries have already vaccinated about 70 percent of the population, while in poor countries the proportion is vaccinated only three percent. “We will take steps to increase the supply of vaccines and essential medical products to developing countries and to remove funding constraints,” the document says.
In addition, the G20 countries intend to work together to achieve mutual recognition of vaccines that WHO considers to be effective. “We will expand our efforts to ensure transparency, speed and predictability in the supply and use of vaccines where they are needed,” the communiqué said.
UN Secretary General: Summit fell short of expectations
In turn, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is disappointed with the results of the summit. “I welcome the G20’s renewed commitment to global solutions, but I am leaving Rome with unrealized – but not buried – hopes,” the UN Secretary General wrote on Twitter.
The G20 Summit was held in Rome on October 30 and 31. On Sunday evening, many of the meeting participants will travel directly from Rome to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26, COP 26), which opened on October 31 in Glasgow, Scotland.
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