COP29: Draft G20 communique fails to mention transition away from fossil fuels

The G20 leaders have drawn criticism from the key negotiators at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku as they failed to mention the need to transition away from fossil fuels in their draft communique on Tuesday, November 19.

The draft communique of G20 focuses on the climate goals of the Paris Agreement that sets the limit at 2 degrees Celsius and states the need to increase climate investment for developing countries along with a fruitful New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) outcome in Baku. However, it does not mention “transitioning away from fossil fuels”, which was discussed at COP28 in UAE.

According to an HT report, climate activist and global engagement director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Harjeet Singh, said, “World leaders at the G20 Summit displayed a stark failure in leadership, neglecting to reaffirm their commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels—a critical pivot for global climate action. Their rehashed rhetoric offers no solace for the fraught COP29 negotiations, where we continue to see a deadlock on climate finance.”

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“The developed nations remain unmoved, failing to quantify the trillions needed or to ensure these funds are provided as grants—essential for achieving climate justice. Without decisive progress on finance at COP29, we are steering towards a catastrophic temperature scenario, where the most vulnerable will bear the gravest consequences,” he added.

“Silence on a new climate finance goal and refusal to address a fossil fuel phase-out are unacceptable from the world’s largest economies and highest emitters. As uncertainty grows at COP29, the moment demands political leadership - not passive repetition of past agreements,” said the Climate Action Network in a statement.

Paris Agreement goals

The G20 has said, “We reaffirm the Paris Agreement temperature goal of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. We underscore that the impacts of climate change will be much lower at the temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with 2 degrees Celsius and reiterate our resolve to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

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It also stated, “We reiterate our commitment and will intensify our efforts to achieve global net zero greenhouse gas emissions/carbon neutrality by or around mid-century.”

Climate finance and investment

The G20 has also highlighted the need for global collaboration and support for climate goals. It has mentioned increasing the private and public climate finance and investment for developing countries, promoting accessible technological innovation, enhancing low-greenhouse gas emission ways, and supporting green industrial strategies and planning. It also emphasised the New Delhi Leaders Declaration, which recognises the need to rapidly scale climate finances from billions to trillions from every source.

(With inputs from agencies)