an hour agoG20 promises concrete action on climate issue
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)By “icontinent and effective” leaders of the world's richest economies have agreed to continue efforts to limit global warming. On Saturday and Sunday (October 30 and 31st), the G20 group held a summit in Rome, Italy. “
“We agree that curbing global temperature growth to 1.5 degrees Celsius will have far lower impacts on climate change than if it is 2 degrees Celsius”, the final communiqué of October 31st said.
Paris's climate agreement envisions countries engaged to maintain global temperature growth at 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial periods.
However, the statement does not reveal exactly how this will be accomplished.
The final declaration of the 20th (G20) Group summit in Rome includes a commitment to achieving the neutrality of carbon emissions “from or around the middle of the century”.
The countries, however, have pledged to ban international financing of new coal plants by the end of this year, a powerful message for coal-dependent countries like China, Russia and India.
But G20 leaders did not agree to end coal power in their countries.
The G20 group, comprised of 19 countries and the European Union, represents 80% of the world's emissions.
Environmental activists have expressed their disappointment at the initial drafts of the communique, saying it was not harsh enough.
There were concerns that reaching an agreement would not be easy, as among leaders who did not personally appear at the summit is also China's President, Xi Jinping.
China is the world's largest pollutant.
The planet is now at least 1.1 degrees Celsius hotter than pre-industrial levels.
Climate scientists want warming to limit 1.5 degrees Celsius to prevent climate disaster.
