Climate Group responds to the G20 leaders' declaration

In response to the G20 leaders' declaration, Champa Patel, Executive Director of Governments an Policy at Climate Group, said:

“The good news is that with limited progress being made in Baku, at least the G20 leaders declaration affirms the UAE consensus and Global Stock Take, reinforcing the importance of tripling global renewables capacity, doubling energy efficiency and tackling deforestation.

But there is one glaring exception. To little surprise, transitioning away from fossil fuels is not mentioned once. Reportedly, this is down to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to delete the relevant paragraphs. The GST is very clear that the world must move away from fossil fuels. That any country can act as a spoiler on what has already been agreed undermines ambition and sends the wrong signal.

G20 world leaders – that represent 85% of global GDP and third thirds of the world’s population – have to reinforce time and time again the need to phase out fossil fuels. We cannot marshal the global leadership we are sorely lacking right now if we cannot state the obvious.

To avoid backsliding, the G20 has to be bolder. With an incoming President Trump, this task will get harder. It’s outrageous that in 2024, which is already the hottest year on record, the biggest economies in the world can’t state the truth: that we need to phase out fossil fuels now.”