G20 meet on climate fails to reach consensus

On issues like scaling up renewable energy, phasing out fossil fuels, especially coal, amid changing weather patterns

- SV KRISHNA CHAITANYA

THE G20 climate and environment ministers’ meeting on Friday concluded without a consensus on key burning issues such as scaling up renewable energy use and phasing out fossil fuels, especially coal, amid weather records being shattered across the globe.

According to the World Meteorological Organisation, July this year was the hottest month on record.

While no joint communiqué was forthcoming, only a chair’s summary was issued by India, which holds the G20 presidency, and an outcome document detailing the countries’ stand on various matters was published. However, after the press conference, Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav said the member countries agreed on 64 out of 68 paragraphs that were taken up for discussion and claimed to have achieved 95 per cent success.

This meeting was crucial for setting the agenda for the G20 leaders’ summit in September in New Delhi. The G20 countries are the world’s 20 largest economies emitting greater than 80 per cent of greenhouse gases. They will deliberate on the outcome of a document in the run-up to the COP28 due in Dubai this year-end.