G20, negotiation blocked on decarbonisation. Kerry and Cingolani negotiate to get out of the impasse

• G20 Environment, tension in Naples between police and antagonists

• G20 Environment, in Naples there is an agreement between the greats.

  Cingolani: "The most complete ever conceived"

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July 23, 2021

The second and last day of the G20 for the environment ministers began this morning in Naples. The US President's climate envoy, John Kerry, and the Italian Minister of Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, are trying to unblock the negotiations on decarbonization at the G20 Environment in Naples, which has been bogged down by the opposition of some countries. Cingolani, who presides over the summit, has established that all the ministers of the Winds will be present at 2 pm after the lunch break, not just the chief negotiators. The goal is to arrive at a shared document in the afternoon. A final press conference is scheduled for 5.00 pm, but it is not excluded that the time will be postponed.

Today the most difficult issues, climate and energy

After yesterday's day dedicated to the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity, today the most complex and divisive topics are addressed: climate and energy. On these issues, the summit records a profound division between the US and Europe on the one hand, China, Russia, emerging economies and oil countries on the other. The United States, the European Union and Great Britain, rich in capital and technologies, would like to accelerate on decarbonisation and the switch to renewable sources, to keep global warming by 2030 within 1.5 degrees of pre-industrial levels.

The other G20 countries are holding back on this process:

cannot give up fossil fuels to fuel their strong growth,

base their economies on hydrocarbons. Even for the richest countries, getting out of fossil fuels is not an easy process: it takes time and capital to build wind and solar power plants, and rapid decarbonisation risks damaging national industries such as automotive or steel mills.

The story of the yellow vests in France was cited yesterday by the Minister of Ecological Transition Roberto Cingolani as an example of the possible "collateral damage" of decarbonisation: a fuel tax imposed to push people to drive less, was seen as a further tax from those who (like French farmers) were forced to use private vehicles and could not afford an electric car.

Then there is the problem of ecological dumping, repeatedly cited by Minister Cingolani: the richest countries can commit to producing steel with clean technologies, but then they risk being subjected to the competition of cheaper steel produced by countries that do not respect sustainability standards.

NGOs to the big boys: post-pandemic climate package is needed

A group of environmental NGOs from various European countries wrote an open letter to the G20 countries asking for "a post-pandemic package that tackles the climate emergency head on". Otherwise, the NGOs announce that "the battle for climate justice will continue with all available tools, including legal ones". Among the signatories are A Sud, Fridays Fo rFuture, Peacelink, Campaign Doomsday, Client Earth. "The G20 - reads the letter - represents the most industrialized economies in the world, which together account for more than 80% of world GDP, 60% of the planet's population and about 75% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While it is therefore essential that G20 member countries take the lead inimplement ambitious and adequate targets for reducing emissions, they continue to culpably delay the adoption of significant climate actions ".

"Civil society organizations - including the signatories - have asked their governments to account for this dangerous inaction in the climate field - the letter continues -. Sixteen of the G20 members have faced, or are currently facing, lawsuits. as a result of their inadequate climate action. Among them Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. urge the G20 to "adopt a post-pandemic package that tackles the climate emergency head on", to keep global warming "below the safety threshold of 1.5 C". Otherwise, "the battle for climate justice will continue with all available tools, including legal ones ".

Yesterday the commitment to double recycling by 2030

Double the circularity of materials by 2030, that is the recycling of waste and the use of recycled materials. It is one of the commitments made yesterday by the ministers on the day dedicated to the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. In the final approved document, the Big 20 are committed to the full use of nature-based solutions or ecosystem-based approaches to tackle biodiversity loss, restore degraded soils, prevent, mitigate and adapt to climate change. Among the commitments there is also the recovery of 50% of degraded areas by 2030.

The G20s agreed to work together on access to safe water and sanitation and cross-border management of water resources. In the document there is the commitment of the G20 to implement sustainable maritime policies, including the designation of Special Areas and Controlled Emission Areas (ECA), and to eliminate unsustainable fishing. The Twenty support international agreements to protect marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, to regulate seabed mining and marine protected areas in Antarctica. On plastics at sea, the need was recognized to intensify collaboration with the private sector and international organizations to stimulate the design of durable and recyclable products and increase theenvironmental education. On the circular economy, the Twenty aim to strengthen cooperation in innovation and double the circularity of materials by 2030. The final document of the first day reaffirms the importance of the inclusion of young people in decision-making processes related to environmental issues and awareness and training of girls and boys in the green economy. Finally, the Twenty agreed to strengthen investments in natural capital activities, promote synergies between financial flows destined for climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, and align investments towards sustainable development and growth.innovation and to double the circularity of materials by 2030. The final document of the first day reaffirms the importance of including young people in decision-making processes related to environmental issues and of raising awareness and training of girls and boys in the green economy. Finally, the Twenty agreed to strengthen investments in natural capital activities, promote synergies between financial flows destined for climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, and align investments towards sustainable development and growth.innovation and to double the circularity of materials by 2030. The final document of the first day reaffirms the importance of including young people in decision-making processes related to environmental issues and of raising awareness and training of girls and boys in the green economy. Finally, the Twenty agreed to strengthen investments in natural capital activities, promote synergies between financial flows destined for climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, and align investments towards sustainable development and growth.Finally, the Twenty agreed to strengthen investments in natural capital activities, promote synergies between financial flows destined for climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, and align investments towards sustainable development and growth.Finally, the Twenty agreed to strengthen investments in natural capital activities, promote synergies between financial flows destined for climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, and align investments towards sustainable development and growth.