G20 climate talks stall ahead of COP26

The world’s major economies are stalled in their efforts to agree on concrete steps to tackle climate change just a couple of weeks before a crucial summit begins in Rome, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Preparatory talks between officials of the G20 This week they did not end in an agreement to reduce coal subsidies and curb methane emissions. There was not even a consensus on the fight to achieve net zero emissions, as well as to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees from pre-industrial levels, said the people, who asked not to be identified due to private discussions.

The G20 meeting will take place immediately before the crucial climate change talks, known as COP26, where leaders hope to reveal a major deal. Earlier this week, COP26 President Alok Sharma said the Rome summit would be a watershed moment to ensure the world averts climate catastrophe.

Negotiators, who are tasked with preparing the final communiqué of the G20 summit to be held on October 30 and 31, even took a step back on some conclusions agreed by the energy and environment ministers before the summer during the talks. This week. One person described the round of negotiations as a disaster.

It is now up to leaders to show political will, the person noted, after a previous meeting between energy ministers in July concluded without making any progress on coal.

China and India, two of the world’s largest carbon emitters and consumers, have not submitted updated climate commitments to the United Nations and Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend either the G20 summit or COP26 in Glasgow in November, which will further remove the possibility of any agreement with the Asian country.

However, stalling could just be a negotiating technique, the people said, so a breakthrough could still be made in the coming weeks. Countries like Russia, Australia and Saudi Arabia have gradually become more constructive, according to one of the people.