Failure to Reach Agreement on Carbon Emission Reduction at G20 Environment Ministers Meeting

In an effort to address climate change, environment ministers from the Group of Twenty (G20) gathered in one place but failed to reach an agreement on reducing carbon emissions and expanding renewable energy.

John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (left), and Bhupender Yadav, Indian Minister of Environment, are shaking hands ahead of the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers' Meeting held on the 28th in Chennai, India.
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

According to major foreign media on the 28th (local time), G20 environment ministers met the previous day in Chennai, India, to discuss the use of fossil energy, reduction of carbon emissions, and expansion of renewable energy. However, it was reported that the meeting did not result in an agreement on expanding renewable energy or the phased reduction of coal.

Prior to this meeting, G20 energy ministers discussed fossil fuel reduction in Ingo Goa until the 22nd but also failed to reach an agreement. The G20 leaders, who account for more than 80% of global carbon emissions, are scheduled to reach an agreement on climate change response in New Delhi, India, this September, but no consensus has been found at the ministerial-level meetings.

Adnan Amin, the chief executive of the 28th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP28), who attended the meeting, said, "The participants understand the seriousness of the crisis the world is facing," but added, "However, I think there is a kind of political understanding issue."