G-20 nations have gathered to talk carbon emissions

31 August, 2022

News Resource: CNBC

NEWS:

BALI, Indonesia — G-20 ministers have gathered in Indonesia to discuss their progress on carbon emissions. But expectations are low.

The group of 20 countries represents about 75% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, the group recognized that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels would require “meaningful and effective” steps.

But there’s frustration about a lack of concrete measures at a time when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has pushed several governments to continue to use coal for longer than they’d hoped.

In the wake of the Kremlin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the disruption of natural gas flows from Russia to Europe, countries including the Netherlands, Germany and Austria said they would have to burn more coal — a fossil fuel.

Other parts of the world have stepped up their consumption of coal, including China, which has experienced a severe heat wave this summer and is using record amounts of energy.

Those decisions, even if temporary, diverge from previous agreements.