Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday that he would have liked this weekend’s G20 meeting to result in a more ambitious agreement on the fight against climate change, ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference ( COP26).
He said, however, that the meeting still managed to make “significant progress” in recognizing that countries must aim to keep global warming 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial averages and phase out the use of coal. and methane.
In its final communiqué, the Group of 20 pledged to stop funding new coal factories abroad, without attacking domestic production. The deadline for achieving carbon neutrality has remained at “half of the century”, which, for some leaders, may extend until 2060.
Trudeau said on Sunday that the G20 must act with a sense of “urgency” to deal with the growing threat of the climate crisis. “Climate change cannot be denied,” he posted on Twitter, “and climate action cannot be delayed. By working with our partners, we must tackle this global crisis with urgency and ambition. “
Positive feedback
Canada has received positive comments on its climate policies from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen. According to Canadian officials, Merkel told Trudeau it was bold to introduce a carbon tax as an oil-producing country.
Ms. Von Der Leyen met with Mr. Trudeau for a one-on-one discussion on Sunday morning.
“I want to thank you for being such a strong and dedicated ally in the fight against climate change,” she told him. I think it is the stake not only of today, but also of the century, of maximum importance. “
The United Nations this week reiterated its warnings that with the current policies promised by the parties to the Paris climate agreement, the Earth will still warm by more than 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. .
Noticed absences
Trudeau said the fact that G20 leaders were able to meet in person for the first time in 18 months to address the issue was progress in itself.
However, Chinese President Xi Jinping was not at the negotiating table, choosing to send his foreign minister, Wang Yi, there.
Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Saturday that Xi’s absence was not ideal. “The G20, of course, is most effective when all the G20 leaders are at the table,” she explained. Having said that, I think we also need to recognize that the fight against COVID is not over yet and that different countries will be making different decisions regarding international travel. “
Xi was one of five G20 leaders who did not make the trip. The leaders of Russia, Mexico, Brazil and Japan also sent representatives and participated themselves only virtually.
But China’s prominence in the G20 end-of-coal energy negotiations made Xi’s absence potentially the most embarrassing. He will also not attend the summit of COP26, which began in Glasgow on Sunday.
China still plans to continue increasing its emissions until 2030 and does not agree to advance its carbon neutral target before 2060.
The G20 is not only responsible for 80% of global economic output, it also produces around 80% of greenhouse gas emissions.