"The world’s largest economies will stop financing coal plants abroad, though that falls far short of what’s needed to fight climate change, raising fears of half-steps at this week’s U.N. summit."
"GLASGOW — Having powered the industrial era, coal made many of the Group of 20 countries what they are today: the world’s 20 largest economies.
On Sunday, leaders from the G20, who today represent the world’s biggest coal producers and consumers, agreed to take the first steps to weaken coal’s future, though they fell far short of what is necessary to sufficiently address climate change. In a joint communiqué released at the end of their summit in Rome, the G20 leaders said they would end the financing of coal power plants overseas, but the statement included no new commitments on curbing the use of coal domestically.
The communiqué also sent an important symbolic message as United Nations-led climate talks get underway this week in Glasgow. The leaders pledged to “pursue efforts” to limit the global average temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, compared to preindustrial times.
But the world is currently not on track to achieve that goal, which scientists say is necessary to avert the worst effects of climate change. This stark fact hangs over the Glasgow climate summit, raising fears that the summit will yield similar half-steps."
Somini Sengupta, Jason Horowitz, and Jim Tankersley report for the New York Times October 31, 2021.
SEE ALSO:
"G20 Leaders Send A Symbolic Message On A Key Climate Target" (New York Times)
"G20 Leaders Call For Effective Action To Cap Global Warming At 1.5C -Official" (Reuters)
"G20 Offers Little New On Climate, Leaving Uphill Task For COP26" (Reuters)
"US, EU Say Deal On Steel Tariffs Will Help On Climate Change" (AP)
