COP28 President-designate Sultan Al Jaber and UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell have jointly urged G20 nations to take a stronger leadership role in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. During the G20 ministerial meeting in Chennai, the leaders issued a statement calling on G20 nations to play a crucial role in achieving positive outcomes on mitigation at the upcoming COP28 climate conference.
The statement emphasized the necessity for a robust mitigation outcome at COP28, focusing on substantial emissions reduction while considering equity and the just transition for developing countries. The leaders emphasized the urgency to accelerate the phase-down of all fossil fuels responsibly and achieve an energy system free from unabated fossil fuels by the middle of the century. They reiterated the need to triple global renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency improvements across sectors by 2030.
While the G20 Energy Ministerial discussed energy transition and aligning pathways with the Paris Goals, the outcome did not provide a clear signal for transforming global energy systems, scaling up renewable and clean energy sources, and responsibly phasing out fossil fuels.
The leaders expressed hope that any progress achieved by the G20 would lead to a strong outcome at COP28, focusing on the Just Transition Work Programme to ensure a fair transition that supports developing countries in overcoming development challenges.
Additionally, they urged G20 nations to prioritize defining a Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and operationalizing the loss and damage fund and funding arrangements. Urgent doubling of adaptation finance was stressed to provide support to those on the frontline of climate change.
The leaders also emphasized the importance of delivering on the 2030 agenda by making climate finance more accessible and affordable to developing countries. They called on G20 nations to prioritize revised commitments on climate finance, contributions to the Green Climate Fund replenishment, and aligning with the Paris Goals.
The statement concluded with an urgent call for political will, unity, and action from world leaders, starting with the G20, to tackle the climate crisis and usher in a new era of sustainable development, leading up to COP28.